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VIDEO: Volvo tech whacks car spy

COLORADO, USA - Braving the elements, secluded locations, bizarre camouflage... Automakers will go to great lengths to hide their upcoming models from prying eyes.

To that extent there's an unspoken rule amongst car testers and spy photographers: "Don't go near the car or try to hop in and we'll leave you alone."

Unfortunately one must earn a living and often it's the car testers and engineers who come under fire from their respective higher-ups when spy photographs are leaked by sites... such as Wheels24.

'I'LL KNOCK YOU OUT'

The photographers are (usually) in a public area and have a right to film objects that are visible to the public. Under no circumstances are technicians and testers allowed to lay hands on them.

As for hiding their vehicles, someone should tell automaker's that you can't remain inconspicuous in a zebra-painted car.

As a result this can lead to tense situations between vehicle testers and spy snappers as one Volvo engineer showed in January 2013.

WATCH THE VIDEO

In a video uploaded to YouTube, a Volvo engineer, testing the new XC40 concept in the US, assaulted KGP photographer and Jalopnik.com contributor Brian Williams.

In the video, you can see the XC40 come to a stop, approach the photographer who was filming the new model and proceed to try and grab his camera.

'HE GETS CHEWED OUT EVERY TIME'

According to Jalopnik, the photographer was filming in the Rocky mountains (clearly a public area) and made no attempt to get near the model.

Williams said: " I was filming the Volvo XC40 testing in the Rockies when the engineer lost it. He decided that I had filmed enough and wanted to break my camcorder.

"My wife was in the car so it made things a little interesting. After the video ends he approached my wife at which point I said "If you go near her I'll knock you out" and at that point he came to his senses."

William's said he wouldn't report the engineer to the authorities despite receiving a bruise on his arm.

"He started apologizing and explained that he gets chewed out every time the car gets filmed/photographed, but his bosses don't understand that you can't hide a car that looks like a zebra."


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