Some car manufacturers are having a really hard time covering their new models from our eyes or those spyshot photographers. Opel however, has been very clever and came out with a set of “official spyshots” of the 2009 Insignia covered with artful camouflage. The real car is supposed to be unveiled in July at the London Motor Show.

The new 2009 Open Insignia use moiré patterns to confuse the camera but still the silhouette is visible and pretty clear. I like it but I’m can’t see all the details I would’ve been interested in. Meanwhile, see the press release below:

CAMOUFLAGE AND DISGUISE: FIGHT AGAINST PROTOTYPE PAPARAZZI

Fishies, Flimmies and the art of misdirection

Bedfordshire, UK. Camouflage and disguise are crucial when new model prototypes first leave the well-protected confines of the design studio or workshop and head out onto the test track or open road. Although a great deal of today’s vehicle proving can be conducted in advance by computer simulation or on the test bench, there inevitably comes the day when all test results have to be validated, and the car must be released into its natural habitat – the road.

Now it’s the turn of Insignia – Vauxhall’s new mid-size car that debuts at the British Motor Show on July 22nd – to take to the public roads. With a highly attractive, completely new body line and sculptural design, Insignia is set to cause a sensation in its class – but surprises only work if they are not revealed beforehand.

The team responsible for camouflaging prototypes began making their preparations for the test phase when the new car first progressed beyond computer simulations and clay models. Together with chief designers and engineers, the team established which of the car’s characteristic lines should be kept hidden the longest from prototype paparazzi.

Together, they developed a “facelift” for the upcoming model that would disguise the prototypes as much as possible. One of the variants had an especially elegant, flowing rear section, for instance, so a pronounced spoiler was designed to mask it. A wooden model was built as a cast to form the plastic camouflage parts needed for around 200 test cars that have to be disguised in the run-up to series production.

Covers for other characteristic body components were also designed and produced using the same process. As always, the first prototypes were brought to a workshop in a particularly well protected area to be disguised as the initial test cars.

First “facelift” should make Insignia as ugly as possible

For this part of the camouflage operation, experts use special adhesive and foil, which ensures a smooth surface and remains flexible and tear-proof at temperatures ranging from minus 40 to plus 70 degrees Celsius. In other areas, the foil is shimmed with foam to change the car’s contours. This adhesive material is also used to camouflage characteristic window lines.

Small, highly contrasting covers are fitted to obscure other prototype body surfaces. For years, the practice at Vauxhall/Opel was to use a black and white chessboard pattern, but this has now been replaced by “Fishies”, rounded, fish-shaped diamonds designed to confuse camera lenses and spying eyes. This disguising job will soon be done even better by Flimmies, a new type of camouflage whose pattern creates a flickering effect.

If it has Vauxhall logo, it’s definitely not a Vauxhall

Fixing false brand and identification marks to prototypes is a popular trick in the camouflage business. So a test car with a Vauxhall-like logo is most probably not a Vauxhall.

Headlamps and rear lights are especially difficult to disguise as vehicle licensing authorities stipulate that a car’s – even a prototype’s – cone of light, brake lights and all other exterior functions must meet legal regulations. Unfortunately, headlamps and rear lights are a popular means for designers to make the cars’ brand easily recognisable, and therefore must be well disguised. To do this, camouflage experts fit simple, round lights from an accessories shop to the rear of the car, and make special components for the headlamps.

Another challenge for camouflage experts is that disguising elements also need to be removable. For certain tests, such as acoustics or aerodynamics, any body styling parts are a hindrance, regardless of security. That’s why some automakers favour large wraparound covers that can be attached to the car’s body with Velcro and lashing belts. Vauxhall opted for a different approach, as such large covers can come loose at high speeds, damaging the camouflage and endangering other road users.

Biggest obstacle in a perfect camouflage operation? People

The biggest potential compromise to camouflage operations is always going to be the technicians associated with the test car, which is why Vauxhall has a strict set of rules concerning prototypes. Rule 531 states that no camouflaged test car may stop in a public place, for instance, while the driver has a quick snack. A tarpaulin must also always be on board, as even Vauxhall prototypes sometimes break down during their test phase and must then be quickly covered over.

To protect plant secrets, prototypes are always accompanied by a second car on public roads, so help is always at hand if needed. Over long distances prototypes have to be transported in closed trucks, such as for test driving in Finland. In the past, resourceful photographers would all too often quickly lift up the truck’s tarpaulin and snap some shots while the driver was taking a well-deserved break.

But why such an effort? In short, the automobile industry lives and breathes new cars, and this is of great interest to two particular groups: competitors and the media. While competitors want to react to new products as quickly as possible with their own innovations, for the media, the news of any new innovations is a valuable means of attracting readers or viewers.

One of the most important characteristics of a new car is its exterior design. It is the customer’s first impression of the car, it defines a brand’s appearance for the public, and often lets judgments be made about what possible technological innovations are concealed beneath the bodywork. That’s why shielding new body styling from prying eyes has become an art form within the auto industry over past decades.

Prototype paparazzi: The nemesis of camouflage experts

The principal opponent of camouflage experts are specialist photographers called prototype hunters, or simply photo spies. The prototype paparazzi have a very go
od idea where the automobile industry’s preferred test circuits are located around the world.

These photographers face increasing competition from amateurs who happen to capture an unknown car on their camera phones. Or then again maybe not, as some pictures that land on editors’ desks are of series-production models that are only unusual because they are not for sale in the photographer’s country, and therefore seem exotic or mysterious.

Professional photographs, on the other hand, can command five-figure sums, depending on brand, timing and image quality, and are the main income of a small, but highly specialized group known as ‘Photoshoppers’. In the past, trained designers artistically adapted photos of camouflage cars with crayons and India ink to form often very accurate images of the latest innovations. Nowadays, it is Photoshop touch-up artists who try to create realistic images of these new models. To help them, they have prototype photographs and design concept cars, which automakers use to test public reaction at motor shows, and also to stir up anticipation of future series-production vehicles.

Does Opel like viral marketing, because it sure looks like it. A few hours ago the newest model Opel Meriva was just a leak that made a few of us happy, but now we have the official press release.  The things I like are the suicide doors that offers better access to the interior or a U-shaped windshield. They say Meriva is still a concept but I’ll have to disagree knowing that there is a B column and they’ve considered passive security reasons.

Though there is a press release there nothing more related to engine, dimensions or other goodies. We’ll have to wait for it in Geneva and give you more info. Meanwhile check up the images.

If you were expecting a sports car from Opel then how about this blue 2-doors beauty that they’ve created partnering with Kissling Motorsport? The name is Astra OPC Race Camp and I can bet you this bug is fast just by mentioning the supercharged and air-cooled 2.0 liter turbo engine that sports 300hp at 6,300 rpm.

Opel Astra OPC Race Camp is a racing version that comes with a six-speed sequential racing (of course) gearbox, has a nice little wing in the back, Recaro and Dunlop to design the seats and should be available for production early next year so you’d better save some cash if you want to park one of these in front of your garage.

via OPC Blog

Issue 73 of the ever popular Speed and Sound once again features the best local content from South Africa.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Drag car featured on the cover but trust me, this one is worth it. It’s a Chev Firenza, dubbed Freshly Squeezed for obvious reasons. In its lucent orange paint it has to be one of the best looking door slammers this side of the equator.

We feature two highly modified Opel TS’, one is a Speed and Sound sponsored racer while the other hails from the sleepy town of Orkney. We also go in depth to show you what makes the C20LET (Opel TS Motor) so strong and potent.

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This week’s featured Zoopedup online garage is Raven’s Opel Corsa

Modifications list

GT- Stripes
Sport steering wheel and hub
Sport Mirriors with built in Indicators
40mm Koenic drop front and back
15″ Lenso mag wheels, Sprayed Black
In dash DVD & playstation 2
Powerflow Freeflow system
Black Crystal tail lights
Angel eye headlights

One of Raven’s video

Opel has unveiled the new Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition,” a unique version of the three-door Astra that emphasizes the brand’s history at the famous circuit. Opel’s production cars are extensively tested during their development stage on the ‘ring, and back in 2005 Manuel Reuter first demonstrated the performance of the Astra OPC when he set a new class record in the car on the “green Hell”.

The limited edition Astra comes with a special white paint scheme, a larger rear spoiler and checkered flag decals plus lightweight wheels and carbon looks mirrors. The interior features full leather trim marked with the outline of the famed Nordschleife on the headrests, carbon-look dash panels and a numbered plaque on the glovebox.

The 237hp (177kW) 2.0L turbo motor remains untouched, and sees the car travel to 100km/h from rest in 6.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 244km/h. The car officially goes on sale in the first quarter of next year but should make an appearance at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Follow a jump for a video of Reuter and his record setting attempt of the Nurburgring in an Astra OPC.

For some time now Charl has been nagging me to put something on the car blog. I’ve said yes for sure and the all time question has been which car will I be ranting about? Would it be my all time favourite car the Nissan Skyline (R33 not that crap R34)… or about the EVO IX? I had a grey import for a short term and it was a great car. Well sorry to shock you all, but as your in-house drift god I have an even better choice.

Some of you may be shocked to hear its not even a Japanese Car. Its Australian.

Introducing the Monaro (from Opel (in South Africa), Vauxhall (in the UK) and Holden (in Australia).

Vauxhall ummed and arghhed over its release here in the UK, mainly due to the really crap response UK buyers gave other V8 engine imports (Corvette for example), however it finally made it here and like a geek in nightclub who spots a sexy lady, I have always had my eye on it but never made a move towards it. Until Now.

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It could have been any of us hacks, behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car on a picturesque but potentially treacherous road, possibly poking at the limits of adhesion so we might return a colorful review that conveys the experience poignantly. But it was French automotive journalist Michel Barelli who was killed this past weekend when the 2007 Opel GT he was driving went out of control on a mountain road and plummeted down an embankment, the AP reports. Barelli, a writer for the French daily newspaper Nice-Matin, was reportedly on a press drive for the car, the European version of the Saturn Sky, when the accident occurred, approximately 40 miles east of San Diego. Condolences from all Jalopniks, everywhere. – Mike Spinelli

[Via: Contra Costa Times]