[MalibuBimmer]

BMW (and other manufacturers) puts heavily camouflaged cars on public streets and tests them. Many of the camos include fake modified cladding, drastically changing or hiding the shape.

My question is: Are these "spy shots"? Seems to me they are what auto manufacturers wants us to see. And by parading these cars on the public streets no "spying" of any kind is required.

In my view a real spy shot is of a car in its ultimate livery which a manufacturer didn't want people to see.

[The HACK]

BMW isn't parading these vehicles out for all to see. They have to put some miles on the car in a variety of real life conditions in order to work out all the bugs. Simulation and rigs can only do so much, and you also need real world data to satisfy various government agencies. That's why you see these heavily camouflaged vehicles, typically 12-16 months before they go on sale.

[RABAUKE]

I thought this was going to have something to do with the "money shot"!

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by The HACK

BMW isn't parading these vehicles out for all to see. They have to put some miles on the car in a variety of real life conditions in order to work out all the bugs. Simulation and rigs can only do so much, and you also need real world data to satisfy various government agencies. That's why you see these heavily camouflaged vehicles, typically 12-16 months before they go on sale.

I agree with everything you say. Why are heavily mocked up photos of cars on the public streets (for the reasons you have given) "spy shots"? Who went "undercover" or became a "spy" to get them? We see exactly what BMW wants us to see.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by The HACK

BMW isn't parading these vehicles out for all to see. They have to put some miles on the car in a variety of real life conditions in order to work out all the bugs.

I believe he knows that - he does not appear to be disputing whether the test cars were really serving any purpose being out in the wild. Rather, he is being pedantic about the definition of the term "spy shot". He's saying that these cars are designed to be driven in public, hence the camouflage, so pictures of them aren't really spy photos at all - they're just photos.

OP, you have a reasonable point in the context of strict lingual application of terms, but its not really a grammar or linguistics forum. PM me if you want me to move this to the Off Topic forum where the discussion will more than likely take a direction you do not desire it. Otherwise - point made sir, thank you.