This is a trend we whole-heartedly encourage. A General Motors public relations professional this morning revealed herself as a covert/sleeper-cell spy photographer when she posted this shot of this disguised 2011 Dodge Charger on a secure web site known in the spy community as Facebook. The Charger was caught while stuck in Detroit's morning traffic jam of American cars.
Should any Chrysler PR person want to act on our behalf, might we mention that sometimes General Motors tests future cars in and around Milford, Michigan. We're just saying.
This bit of espionage does bring up a few troubling questions though. Such as: Why can't GM incorporate the passenger-side front airbag into the dashtop without that seam? And also: Holy crap! Look at the wheel covers on that Pontiac Aztek!
lostboyz says:
07:30 AM, 09/10/10
living around SE michigan you stop noticing these things after awhile, especially if the car image has already been leaked elsewhere.
I've been seeing volts, cruzes, chargers, durangos, 300s, etc around here in some form of camoflauge for a long time
danielpund says:
08:24 AM, 09/10/10
Well then, lostboyz, you too are encouraged to send any and all photos of test cars you might stumble across. Try us at: submissions@edmunds.com.
Daniel
windsor5 says:
08:43 AM, 09/10/10
lol pwned
felonious says:
08:58 AM, 09/10/10
Pund, you've done it again.
lostboyz says:
09:10 AM, 09/10/10
I would, but seeing as how I work for one of them, my dad works for another, and my neighbor works for the other, I think I'll just enjoy it for myself without getting anyone in trouble
exnevadan says:
10:19 AM, 09/10/10
the camo'd Charger looks worlds better than the Aztek
danielpund says:
11:01 AM, 09/10/10
lostboyz,
Dude, it'll just be between you, me and the Internet. Don't nobody else need to know. Plus, honestly, how much do you really like your neighbor anyway?
Daniel
lostboyz says:
11:24 AM, 09/10/10
If I catch anything on the road I'll let you know. Best recently was a 458 italia on the way home yesterday (dealer plates), and a couple months ago someone in my neighborhood was running around in an M plate opel insignia.
1487 says:
11:28 AM, 09/10/10
is that even a GM vehicle above? Almost all of them have seamless airbag covers.
throwback says:
11:29 AM, 09/10/10
When is Dodge showing the thing? We've seen enough spy shots to get a sense of what it looks like, release some images already!
1487 says:
11:41 AM, 09/10/10
sergio says no products should be sbown months in advance, he wants to do it Honda style and debut new cars weeks before they go on sale.
newcar71 says:
12:36 PM, 09/10/10
Atek?
tmanz says:
12:49 PM, 09/10/10
why would a GM employee bring up a Chrysler product at all? All this does is gets more interest in the Charger. I know they were trying to spoil the surprise but these 'leaks' get a lot of notice for the companies cars.
takemorepills says:
01:19 PM, 09/10/10
"This bit of espionage does bring up a few troubling questions though. Such as: Why can't GM incorporate the passenger-side front airbag into the dashtop without that seam?"
hmm, maybe because popping an airbag module like that is cheaper to replace than when a passenger side airbag has to tear through a dash, destroying it. I like the modular design myself, if the airbag pops it doesn't require the entire upper dash panel to be replaced. My wife's Subaru has the integrated passenger side airbag that will split the dash open if it goes off. I have looked over the dash a few times, the entire upper piece from the driver's side to the passenger side, down to the glove box would need to be replaced.
kevm14 says:
08:27 PM, 09/10/10
I recently noticed my 05 CTS-V has no seam for the passenger airbag. Interesting. I guess seams are so 90s(and 80s on premium cars).
cadetgray says:
10:03 AM, 09/11/10
If my passenger side airbag goes off, I'm sure what it does to the dashboard will be the least of my repair concerns. But then maybe GM is used to them going off randomly.
angry_mushroom says:
05:59 PM, 09/11/10
You guys take images from random sources? Guess I'll have to take my camera on more trips.
On a related note. I'm digging the newish design on the Charger. The tail lights look rather nice.
ns5 says:
06:17 AM, 09/12/10
If you guys want to see a walkaround, there is a video of a 2011 pursuit (Police Car) Charger somewhere. You can see rear angles, the back, and the sides better than most of the released pictures.
danielpund says:
06:44 PM, 09/12/10
ns5,
Yeah, I should have dropped the link to that video into this post.
Here it is:
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2010/09/2011-dodge-charger-pursuit-trade-show-video.html
Daniel
ivtkdou says:
07:12 AM, 09/13/10
you say "Detroit's morning traffic jam of American cars" I spot a Honda CRV in that photo...
67carbman says:
07:52 AM, 09/13/10
Nice to know GM PR people can drive and take pictures at the same time. Reveal your company car guidelines. I suppose this was immdeiately texted around the globe from the car seat as well. Let me know what car you're driving so I can give you a wide berth!
danielpund says:
08:40 AM, 09/13/10
ivtkdou,
Merely the exception that proves the rule. How skewed is the Detroit Metro-area car market? Well, judging by how many you see in the area, you'd be convinced that the Cadillac STS is a huge sales success and that people actually purchased Chevrolet Malibu Maxx SSs. Now that is skewed!
Daniel