They're Watching: Google StreetView catches Porsches testing in Colorado
There's no hiding these days from Big Brother. The nutcases in the tin-foil hats would tell you there never was, but now even automakers have to watch out. Development teams out testing prototypes on public roads used to have to watch out for professional spy photographers, but with the advent camera phones and now Google Street View, there's no hiding anywhere. That's what the boys at Garage419 discovered when they found shots of several Porsche prototypes on service while searching for a good driving road in Colorado.
Hard to tell much from the shots of the Boxsters, Caymans and 911s, except to say that the automakers' dev teams and the paparazzi alike have a new kid on the block to watch out for.
[Source: Garage419]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris 1:41PM (12/30/2008)
I think the subcontractors for google must drive around in "marked" vehicles while they are doing this photography. From what I've seen, the car's themselves have a ton of gear bolted to them so its pretty obvious what they are doing.
Big Brother IS watching, but at least with google you know it when its happening.
Reply
Jj 2:07PM (12/30/2008)
The cars are not marked, and the camera's mounted on top are not that noticeable from any distance.
Autoblog did a post on the cars that Google uses (there are also contractors that use various other vehicles)
I have seen a few of the cars in person and they were all blue Cobalts like those pictured in the AB post, but they had a smaller camera rig then the one showed on the gallery on that post.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/smile-that-cobalt-could-be-a-google-streetview-camera-car/
larry a 6:04PM (12/30/2008)
I drove by one going down my street, it was a white focus with the orange construction hazard lights on, and it had one camera on top that was in one of those glass globes, the only marking it said was vehicle stops frequently or something like that
wushu 1:41PM (12/30/2008)
Where's the Nissan GT-R, the new benchmark the next Porsche 911 Turbo must meet? Where's the Nissan 370Z, 0-60 in 4.7seconds, faster than the Porsche Cayman S, for 1/2 the price, and, the 370Z has push-button start and keyless entry too! Finally, have those Porsche test drivers finished their Nissan driving school course yet?
Reply
Level 1:50PM (12/30/2008)
The Nissan's you mentioned sure might be slightly faster but they still are Nissans, they will never be Porsche's.
Just like Lexus will never be a M-Benz.....
BigMcLargeHuge 1:54PM (12/30/2008)
Is it really necessary to bring up some other car on an off-topic forum?
I like Nissan as much as any other carmaker, but the hype and hatred are both getting tiring.
I'd enjoy the GT-R more as just another car that does what it set out to do, no more no less, and I only had to consider it among its peers as often as the rest.
Nuieve 1:44PM (12/30/2008)
Hahaha, Google Maps sometimes cracks me up.
Reply
Stumpy 2:23PM (12/30/2008)
I found my RSX on Google Maps. It was parked in front of my parents house at the time. Pretty good picture too. =)
Reply
samgross144 5:38PM (12/30/2008)
More interestingly, the front car in line looks like it is a Boxster, but with a really long nose. Front engined coupe?
Reply
RLQ 6:04PM (12/30/2008)
Google street maps has a pic of me watering my lawn.
Reply
arturo 6:49PM (12/30/2008)
my car is park outside the house garage, good thing i was not caught racing. lol
Reply
SpeedRacer 10:13AM (12/31/2008)
The Idaho Springs sign in the picture is near the base for the road up Mt Evans in Colorado; the highest paved road in North America. I was there recently to do some navigation system testing and the nice lady at the toll booth said that Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes were there all the time. Great road for various types of testing. The Google cars are not the same make and model but here's what might be their next adventure: http://piaw.blogspot.com/2008/12/streetview-trike.html
Reply