Sure, you see a car. But what is it, exactly, that you're seeing?
That's the theory behind the way Ford camouflages its new vehicles to protect them from prying eyes before they are officially released. The automaker says its latest camouflage system is the best yet when it comes to foiling spy photographers.
Hiding cars from competitors and journalists is an age-old problems for automakers. Sure, they can keep them under wraps as they are being developed in modeling studios or even outside on private test tracks. But at some point, they are going to be have to be taken for a drive on public streets, sometimes for hot- and cold-weather testing or any of several tests that can't be conducted behind closed doors.
If competitors were able to get an early look, they could quickly try to copy a design. So automakers used to cover cars in black vinyl covers for drive tests, or put wedges of plastic foam under the camo to make sure they car's curves aren't disclosed.
Since then, several better camouflage schemes have been tried. The latest, says Kevin Rothenhauser, Ford camo coordinator, is called "golf balls," a camo scheme that is considered one of the best ones yet because of the way it makes it hard to tell which way a curve is going.
"It's extremely effective," says Rothenhauser. Cameras "have a hard time focusing on the image."
The camo is especially good at disguising the crease in a fender or other fine details.