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The origin of the dazzle pattern
British artist Norman Wilkinson was serving in the Royal Navy in 1918 when he had an idea on how to disguise warships to protect himself and his comrades from enemy projectiles. While it was not possible to completely hide a ship from enemy submarines, Wilkinson was able to create a new way to confuse their perception of a ship’s size, speed and travel direction. He called this method “dazzle camouflage”. Approximately 4,000 dazzle ships were commissioned and used until the end of WWI – an achievement which earned Wilkinson both fame and honour, although there was no tangible proof of the camouflage’s advantage. |
Why do Germans call a prototype car an Erlkönig?
In the 1950s, German automotive journalists Heinz-Ulrich Wieselmann and Werner Oswald published – without permission – snapshots of prototype cars in a major automotive magazine: “auto, motor und sport”. It created a small sensation, and was considered something of an insult to the manufacturers. It was the first time that a large audience, including competitors, was able to see pictures of unannounced vehicles. They published these pictures in a special column, which they named Erlkönig.
The name Erlkönig stuck, and it became synonymous with prototype cars or so-called development mules. The term was taken from a poem of the same name by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The title of the poem, ”Der Erlkönig“, is sometimes translated as “The Erlking”. The journalists changed the first line of the poem from “Who rides there so late through the night dark and drear?” (Edgar Alfred Bowring’s translation) to “Who drives there so fast through rain and wind?” Ever since, manufacturers have worked hard to camouflage their Erlkönig prototypes to confuse both journalists and competitors, making it hard for them to gain early information about the design and technology when undesired pictures are taken. In order to hide the external form of their vehicles, the automotive industry adopted camouflage that was similar to the WWI dazzle ships.
A typical Erlkönig is camouflaged on all surfaces
With so many smartphones equipped with high-definition cameras, it is now much easier and much more common than just a few years ago for development mules to be caught on camera. Manufacturers are therefore using an ever-shifting range of creative new camouflage car wraps to foil such attempts.
Caught in the act: Erlkönig of the BMW M5 Touring
Trending patterns: the Erlkönig Collection by BMW M
From the road to the wardrobe – the secret is out: the same pattern that kept the BMW M5 Touring hidden is now suitable for everyday wear.
The iconic Erlkönig camouflage pattern has inspired a number of garments for the Autumn/Winter 2024 collection. Just like the BMW M5 Touring (➜ Read also: THE M5 Touring) remained hidden until its official unveiling, the new BMW Lifestyle collection includes pieces such as a packable waistcoat, a bag, and a cap that embody the same spirit of subtle sophistication. These garments don’t simply blend but rather make a statement – just like the Erlkönig pattern itself.
