GM Fast Lane Blog
Cool StuffWhat Does Your Car Color Say About You?
By Amy DeLong
Training/Communications Coordinator
So, maybe Kermit the Frog was right when he sang, "it’s not easy being green." According to DuPont Automotive rankings of the most popular automotive colors in North America, green ranks below 4 percent. As I look through the other findings, it appears things aren’t any better for green across the entire globe. Whether bright lime or more traditional pine, this color comes up, well, green with envy toward almost all other colors offered.
For eight years, silver has claimed the No. 1 spot in the popularity studies followed by white and black and recently, shades of grey. I have to admit, during that time, only one of the vehicles in our driveway has strayed from the top three and we certainly didn’t stray far. Last year, my husband opted for stealth gray metallic which has a blue tone to it. He likes it because it’s different but not over the top which certainly fits with his character. He’s a trendy guy but is fairly understated, especially when it comes to color.
DuPont’s findings also show that silver continues to decline in popularity as we move toward a “fuller palette of true, high-chroma colors.” Attention-grabbing colors, such as red and orange, are moving up the ranks. Today’s consumers are looking for true color in almost everything they purchase. Think about the ads you might see for cell phones or stand mixers. Your mother’s standard stainless or white model is almost passé next to today’s offerings of green apple, tangerine or citron. The same holds true for our appetite for vehicle colors. Fashion trends also impact vehicle color trends.
GM’s own market research in the luxury segment shows that regardless of color, customers expect the following attributes:
* Depth of color
* High gloss
* Consistent and even color
* Smooth surface
GM’s Global Paint & Polymer Center ensures that best practices are used worldwide to achieve these results.
I found an interesting post on Carlist.com recently. In an excerpt from the article on car colors, Car Answer Book author Leatrice Eiseman says vehicle color reveals a lot about an owner’s personality. See if you agree with what she claims your vehicle says about you:
* Silver — Elegant, loves futuristic looks, cool
* White — Fastidious
* Vibrant Red — Sexy, speedy, high-energy and dynamic
* Deep Blue-Red — Some of the same qualities as red, but far less obvious about it
* Taupe / Light Brown — Timeless, basic and simple tastes
* Black — Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics
* Neutral Gray — Sober, corporate, practical, pragmatic
* Dark Green — Traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced
* Bright Yellow-Green — Trendy, whimsical, lively
* Yellow Gold — Intelligent, warm, loves comfort and will pay for it
* Sunshine Yellow — Sunny disposition, joyful and young at heart
* Deep Brown — Down-to-earth, no-nonsense
* Orange — Fun loving, talkative, fickle and trendy
* Deep Purple — Creative, individualistic
I like that my black Saturn VUE sends out the impression that I am empowered. At the same time, I appreciate that Paint & Polymers engineers work closely with designers to ensure GM offers high quality finishes in other options. My next purchase may have me punch up the color a bit. Who knows. Maybe I’ll help old Kermit change his tune about green.
Posted by Editor on March 9, 2007 4:41 PM
