Keeping customers and media eager to see the successor to the groundbreaking original Chevrolet Volt at bay isn't easy.

The new Volt doesn't debut until the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, meaning its engineers have to create camouflage that balances styling secrecy with the need to validate the Volt and its systems in public.

"If it were up to me it would be a shoebox driving down the road," said Lionel Perkins, GM camouflage engineer, according to a GM press release. "The design team wants us to cover more of the vehicle and the engineering team needs to have enough of the vehicle's weight and aero exposed so that the tests in the development process are consistent with the product that will come to market."

Engineers responsible for the interesting designs say that their efforts are intended strictly to hide the metal beneath.

Some of the tricks used to keep the Volt a secret, according to GM, includes:

   -Black and white patterns - The color scheme creates a shadow that hides the vehicle's design.

   -Bubble wrap - Camouflage can be made from a number of different materials like plastics, vinyl and foam. Bubble wrap is a lightweight, easily attachable three-dimensional material used to confuse people.

   -Swirls -Swirl patterns better hide developments like if a piece is removed to make a change to the vehicle.

   -3D - Layered camouflage might throw people off, but it has to be applied without interrupting airflow around the vehicle.

The camouflage package on the next-generation Volt started six months in advance of early development, according to GM.

Every vehicle is different and tricks are updated to keep those trying to get a sneak peak at the car guessing.

"Each car is unique. We are like a dress maker, and the car is our model," said Perkins. "No two models are the same. We need to make the right dress that fits the body we are dealing with."

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