This Might Become the Trendy Car Colour in North America
The designers at global auto paint supplier BASF spend a lot of time studying future trends and creating new collections to inspire automakers around the globe. Last year, the key colour they came up with for North American cars was “Lava,” a volcanic shade of grey that reminded us of the all-new 2024 Ford Mustang, only a bit darker and warmer. And now?
“In this year’s collection, red leaning pastels and mid-tones are replaced by restorative yellow and green effects suggesting renewal,” said Liz Hoffman, head of Automotive Color Design for the Americas. “The connection complements both grounded color spaces and otherworldly escapes. It shows evolving mindsets in automotive design.”
- Also: 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Brings Back Free Wheeling Spirit and Colours
- Also: This is a Dodge Challenger for People Who Can’t Pick a Colour
She added that colours in the Americas contribute to cooling effects in the vehicle with solar reflectance, work with sensor-based mobility concepts, and explore more approaches with responsible raw material sourcing.
The key colour identified by BASF is this new-age green that mimics a transparent blue mid-coat. It’s called “Zenomenon,” and we kind of like it. What about you?
If you’re not a fan, well, there is always worse. For example, the colour for Asia-Pacific is a light fluorescent green called “Electronic Citrus,” supposedly reflecting the region’s positive attitude and growth during difficult times. In our opinion, it looks more like bad guacamole than anything.
As for the Europe/Middle East/Africa region, a mix of bright beige and orange called “Predictor” is the key colour to watch according to BASF. It’s aimed to serve as a reminder of the importance of the human factor in the AI-driven future by adding a sharp, warm sparkle to the matte surface.
How much will these colours inspire automotive designers? We’ll find out in a couple of years. Our only wish is that they show more originality. Luckily, we have brands like BMW, Porsche and Jeep to save us from the sea of whites, greys and blacks.