Like all business, GM wants to control the information it gives to the public about its future products.

So, while it wants you to know that the second generation Chevrolet Volt will debut at the 2015 Detroit motor show, at the same time, it doesn’t want anyone knowing what it will look like – not just yet, which is where the art of camouflage comes into play.

Prototypes are a doubled edged sword for automakers; on one hand, you have designers who want everything hidden and on the other hand, you have engineers who want to evaluate the cars with as little interference as possible.

“If it were up to me it would be a shoebox driving down the road,” said Lionel Perkins, GM camouflage engineer. “The design team wants us to cover more of the vehicle and the engineering team needs to have enough of the vehicle’s weight and aero exposed so that the tests in the development process are consistent with the product that will come to market.”

GM shared some of the tricks that it uses on its testers:

  • Black and white patterns – The color scheme creates a shadow that hides vehicle design elements.
  • 3D – Layered camouflage throws off onlookers, but has to be applied without interrupting airflow around the car.
  • Swirls – In the old days of car camouflage, the design relied mainly on a grid pattern, but over the years engineers discovered that grids are difficult to realign if a piece is removed to make a change to the car. Swirl patterns better hide such developments.   
  • Bubble wrap – Camouflage can be made from many different materials including plastics, vinyl and foam. Good, old bubble wrap is a lightweight, easily attachable three-dimensional material used to confuse prying eyes.

One other thing about GM’s prototypes, which also holds true for most other carmakers, as you can see from our scoop shots, is that, the camouflage package is not only unique for each car, but it’s also constantly updated and revised.
“Each car is unique. We are like a dress maker, and the car is our model,” said Perkins. “No two models are the same. We need to make the right dress that fits the body we are dealing with.”

Spy Photos: CarPix, Carscoops Reader Brett Borgard & GM

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