The Mercedes-Benz 'Cloaking Device'

cold fjord writes "As part of its marketing campaign for the new hydrogen fuel cell powered F-Cell, Mercedes-Benz has equipped one with a cloaking device. They covered one side of an F-Cell with LEDs and used cameras on the other side to capture the view, which is then displayed on the LEDs to effectively remove the vehicle from the line of sight."

Comments

I won't buy it.

[rush,overlord,rush!]

The insurance must be very high.

Re:I won't buy it.

[Anonymous Coward]

If you're worried about that, you're not its target audience.

I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't be tempted by it if I had the money. If for no other reason than that it'd be hilarious to drive in the city in stealth mode with only my tires clearly visible. Less fun when someone hits me but that happens now and I drive a friggin bright purple car!

All My

[NEDHead]

Luxury cars are cloaked too - which is why it looks like I drive an old minivan

Re:All My

[LanMan04]

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2007/10/Chamelion-XLE-383947

Spokesman V/O: If you're a luxury car owner, there's something you should know. Luxury sedans are stolen at the rate of four per minute.

[ show couple walking to curb from restaurant; his car is nowhere to be found ]

Man: My brand new BMW! I just got this car two days ago!

[ Spokesman enters foreground ]

Spokesman: Frightening, isn't it? Suddenly, the idea of buying a car for the cache of a hood ornament seems outdated. In the 90's, you don't need a car to tell the world you're wealthy; you need a car to tell the world you're smart.

[ show luxury car under wraps, as a breeze sends the cloth flying to reveal a junky-looking vehicle underneath ]

Spokesman: Introducing the Chameleon XLE for 1993. Finally, a luxury car that doesn't look like a luxury car.

Inside, the Chameloen XLE has everything you would expect in a luxury sedan of its class. Soft leather seating, a contoured instrument panel, and fine wood. But there's more - much more.

Authentically distressed fenders give way to a partially padded roof of blistered vinyl. While under the hood, a simulated transmission-fluid drip whispers, "Hey, not worth the trouble." This is craftsmanship no one will steal. GThis is engineering for the inner-city driving experience.

[ Spokesman places marble at the top of hood, which rolls forward into a hole at the bottom of the hood ]

Spokesman: Every inch of the Chameleon XLE is a pinnacle of urban design.

There's attention to detail. Like three mismatched wheel covers, and one exposed rim in school-bus yellow. Standard.

A broken taillight repaired with duct tape. Standard.

Retractable antenna. Standard.

The body of a Pontiac with a driver's-side door from an Oldsmobile Delta '88. All standard.

A car thief takes one look at this, and keeps right on walking. Of course, it's equipped with an automatic alarm system - but do you really think you'll need it?

[ Spokesman turns on alarm, which renders the car even more useless ]

Spokesman: The Chameleon XLE. They might tow it away, but they'll never steal it.

Re:All My

[Anonymous Coward]

The problem with that is a truck might help you and your car become even less visible using more mainstream spatial compression methods.

I would hack it.

[TheInternetGuy]

If I had one I would hack it to make it look like a running Alien.

Re:Fugly!

[Sneeka2]

I may be wrong, but I'm sensing that you may not particularly like this car.
That may just be me reading too much between your lines though, I tend to do this sometimes.
Sorry if I misunderstood you.

Ok, yeah, that's cool, but...

[element-o.p.]

Ok, yeah, that's cool, but what you really need is an airship covered with light emitting diodes across one side because then you could have...

...wait for it...

...a LED Zeppelin!

Re:MI6 will cover it

[cold fjord]

With Labour improved MI6 being all in for diversity, the new James bond is deaf and will sign "hear", you insensitive clod!

lead into my subject lines

[schroedingers_hat]

yeah, well my posts

Re:MI6 will cover it

[jamiesan]

No Mr. Bond. I expect you to drive.