Under wraps: The stealthy world of testing future cars on public roads

New car tests are carried out well before their debuts, leading manufacturers to employ camouflage to obscure which model or brand is under examination. We recently encountered one of these enigmatic vehicles on a German motorway and believe we may have identified the model.

Before hitting the market, cars must undergo rigorous testing in various environments, including specialized centres, racetracks, and extreme weather conditions. Yet, testing in real-world conditions on public roads is one of this process's most crucial phases. It offers a sneak peek of the vehicle a few months before its official unveiling.

Manufacturers go to great lengths to conceal the identity of the cars under testing. Using patterned foil and sometimes additional plastic panels alters the vehicle's appearance, making it challenging to discern its features or even the brand's logo. However, with a keen understanding of the market and anticipated releases, deducing the model in question is often possible.

The current second-generation Audi Q5, introduced in 2017 and updated in 2021, is due for a successor rather than another facelift. This new generation is expected to debut the SQ5 variant alongside the standard, less potent models.