What Does Your Vehicle’s Color Say About You?

A friend once mentioned it was important that he liked what he drove, since he averaged three hours in his car every work day because of the commute. We assumed he was referring to comfort and amenities, but he clarified that spending all that time staring at his hood in bumper-to-bumper traffic meant he had to love the color of the car. And believe us, that look-at-me bright yellow paint matched his personality, too.

Ford understands that color can make a statement about you, not to mention it’s one of the first things people notice about your vehicle. Bold colors with fun names remain a hot trend, and that’s not lost on Ford, which started its own wave of trendsetting bright colors with the Mustang in Grabber Blue and the F-150 SVT Raptor’s Molten Orange, as well as the Fiesta’s Bright Magenta and Lime Squeeze. “Color matters. One of the first things people ask when you buy a new car is, ‘What color?’” said Susan Swek, Ford Color Specialist. “Ford is taking bold steps in terms of the look and the appearance, doing some new things. The Lime Squeeze on Fiesta did amazingly well, exceeding expectations. It’s been almost two years and it’s still doing well. Men, women, all ethnic groups, all ages, people really like it.”

“Color lets people add a personal touch to their lives, something that speaks to them and expresses a little bit of their personality,” Susan continued. “Colors like Ruby Red, Race Red, Blue Candy and Ginger Ale are bright, vibrant additions to the palette. Of course, some people gravitate to the classics, the core colors, so we strive within Ford to achieve the best blacks, silvers, whites and grays, putting a fresh, modern spin on them.”

Did you know colors have even been tied to the state of the economy on some level?  “Are brighter colors a hopeful sign? I think so,” Susan said. “The color, the type of the material, that all becomes more important to people as they become more aware of the impact of their purchase.” You could say people form an emotional connection with color, which is why Ford paint colors are deep, bold and, yes, even mysterious. Ford has talked to dealers who have said customers have bought a car off the lot based on its color.

“We did a massive color overhaul a number of years ago, stepping back from the palette in terms of design leadership for mass volume. We really raised the bar in our paint quality and the appearance, so we’re staying solid and consistent. But each vehicle gets one or two new colors every year,” Susan explained.

“Consumers can look forward to tinted metallic and neutrals, more depth and range in color options and complex tri-coats, which provide more shine and highlights,” she revealed. “The color trends coming out of Ford are going to be very diverse. We’re pushing the limits of technology to move color forward.”

And eye-catching color isn’t lost on the woman specializing in eye-catching color: “When I saw a Blue Candy Tinted Clearcoat Focus driving down the street for the first time, it actually stopped me in my tracks,” Susan said.

Source: The Ford Story