The Ford Motor Company has a long-standing reputation for design innovation in the automobile industry. While this makes the public aware that Ford is on the cutting edge of vehicle development, it also makes the company a target for corporate espionage. In order to protect its intellectual property, Ford has to combat the creation of copycat versions of its vehicles. In the past this was not overly difficult to do, prototype vehicles could be tested in small towns or on low-traffic roads. However today, with the ubiquitous nature of camera phones, it is much more likely that unreleased vehicle designs could be leaked. This poses a serious threat to Ford’s business, as their vehicles’ designs are the company’s second most popular feature.
For this reason Ford has developed “car camouflage,” a means of obscuring the body lines of prototype vehicles. The camouflaging technique is based on optical illusions, patterned black and white vinyl stickers are attached to the outside of the car to confuse the eye and hide the vehicle’s true shape. The stickers are lightweight, do not trap heat, and only slightly alter the aerodynamics of the car, making them perfect for testing out potential new offerings. In some cases where prototype performance is not being directly tested, the company uses faux body panels in addition to the stickers to further hide the car’s true design. John LaQue, Ford’s Prototype Planning and Build Section Supervisor, states, “The work we’re doing is crucial to Ford staying competitive in a constantly evolving industry.”
Car camouflage is just one of the many steps Ford takes to bring you vehicles that are among the finest and most unique on the automobile market.
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