“Keeping it real” is the mantra behind 2018-2019’s automotive global color trend report, according to GM coatings supplier BASF. From gray hues to achromatic colors, this year’s palette seeks to blend the digital and natural world.
In its annual automotive color trends report, BASF notes that as more people spend time online, especially on social media, the lines between the digital and physical world blur. That is why hues of gray and blue are prominent in its 2018-19 palette, because they mimic the color of digital screens and gadgets.
In North America, the German coatings supplier named “metal’s mettle” (a metallic gray), “kleur” (a deep red), and “centripetal blue” (a dark blue) as the most import colors for the region. These darker colors were selected to mimic scientific advancements, passion, and the changing role of vehicles in North America.
Color trends differ in the Asia Pacific region. Inhabitants of this region typically trust technology more than their North American counterparts, thus popularizing sparkly blues and silky beiges. In Europe, Middle East, and Africa, rapidly-changing urban spaces promote modern grays and multi-colored hues, the report claims.
With the rise of ride sharing services and autonomous vehicles, BASF predicts that vehicles will transition from a personally owned object to a public mode of transportation, especially in North America. According to the report, “for cars that are designed for sharing, color pallets with a universal appeal will play a significant role.”
In addition to aesthetic appeal, the new coatings also feature heat reflective technology and enhanced LiDAR detectability.
Comments
Wow! Who would have thought colors of vehicles was so complicated? Walked through parking lot today and everything was literally black or white. looked like an old photograph. Very boring. Is it because people want those colors or nothing to pick from? Colors today seem mostly one color palate. I miss the 60s and 70s colors.
Resale value. People buy colors they think hold value, not colors they want.
Not saying that you’re wrong, but that’s a terrible mindset to have. Sadly, many people think like that. I buy interesting colored cars, because I enjoy them much more than driving around in a silver, gray or beige one like everyone else. If that costs me a few bucks in the end, then it was worth it for my enjoyment over the perceived enjoyment of its future owner. I can’t imagine being dinged for more than a hundred bucks or two for even the most off the wall color. Looking at trade in values and used car listings, I have yet to see any patterns of color driving value beyond Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds doing a “color adjustment” on trade in values in the 30-50 dollar range. Sometimes the rarity has some built in demand when you see one red, yellow or orange vehicle among a sea of colorless vehicles. I got more compliments from strangers on my bright red “rental queen” w-body Impala than any other vehicle I’ve owned.
I bought an orange Colorado last year, and I’m darn proud to have a unique vehicle that you never see on the road, and most importantly, I like the color (although most people I talk to don’t.) I could care less about resale value, I didn’t buy the truck for the next owner to enjoy and it’s certainly not a “Barret Jackson” investment vehicle.
In my opinion, GM has some of the most boring car colors of the “American” 3. I had to drive 300 miles to find my truck in Orange, and it was a one year only color produced for only part of 2017! One look at a Dodge or Jeep lot will convince you of this. And yes, the Blue and Red on a Camaro etc. are boring to me, everyone has red or blue. Where is Yellow? Green? The Monochromatics like the gray on the new Chargers or Focus RS, or the Dessert Tan on a Jeep or Tacoma TRD Pro?
Agreed. Look at the color palette for the Malibu, Impala, LaCrosse, Terrain or most other GM high-volume mainstream vehicles. A total snooze. More shades of grey and earth tones than any other manufacturer. Even Cayenne Red is just an average ruby red. Blue Velvet is dull and lacks sparkle. No luster or depth like FCA, Ford, Toyota or Honda. What’s worse is that GM charges $395 or more for almost all of their boring metallic paints.
I do see new blue-greens showing up on some 2019 models, but where are the rich dark or bright blues, reds, yellows or even browns??