The Master Strategy of Porsche: It Bought a BMW to Hide the First Front-Engine Car

The Zuffenhausen brand resorted to an ingenious deception to develop the 924. The fascinating secrets of automotive camouflage.

Automakers always look to conceal the appearance of their future products. They want to prevent prying eyes from discovering their design details. Therefore, this practice evolved into a fascinating art of deception over decades. Companies constantly refine their camouflage formula. For example, they use vinyl, cardboard, or fake panels to confuse automotive paparazzi. In the initial phases, they use “test mules.” These often blend new and old components.

The Ingenious Camouflage: A BMW with a Porsche Heart

Test mules generally use body panels from the same manufacturer to hide. However, Porsche had a very different idea half a century ago. The 924 was their first front-engine car. This meant they lacked a previous silhouette available to camouflage the prototype. For this reason, Porsche bought a BMW 2002 and a first-generation Opel Manta. These cars served as mules for the internal project known as “EA425.” Porsche needed to totally camouflage its radical concept change.

The 924 model was actually a varied mix of components. It carried parts from Volkswagen and also from Audi. It finally debuted in 1976 as the replacement for the Porsche 914. Audi handled its assembly in Neckarsulm. Its 2.0-liter engine came directly from the Audi 100. In addition, it was water-cooled. A decade passed until the 924 S used an authentic Porsche 2.5-liter engine.

The Art of Deception in the Modern Era

Test mules with borrowed body panels continue to circulate today. In fact, Ferrari hid its first fully electric model. It was camouflaged under the body of a Maserati Levante. They installed cleverly fake quad exhaust pipes to trick everyone. Porsche also continues using ingenious camouflage techniques. For example, their black prototypes use extra layers of adhesive vinyl. Even the electric Taycan had fake exhaust pipes to simulate a gasoline Panamera.

Car spy photos are older than one might think. This is a tradition dating back to the 1950s. German journalists pioneered the practice by publishing these unreleased images. In conclusion, automakers have perfected this art over time. Porsche’s bold deception involving the BMW remains one of the most curious automotive legends today.