Colour trend forecast from BASF Coatings: silver to remain the leader but in more colourful versions and designers expect greater commitment to colour

Citation

(2005), "Colour trend forecast from BASF Coatings: silver to remain the leader but in more colourful versions and designers expect greater commitment to colour", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 34 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2005.12934dab.014

Colour trend forecast from BASF Coatings: silver to remain the leader but in more colourful versions and designers expect greater commitment to colour

Colour trend forecast from BASF Coatings: silver to remain the leader but in more colourful versions and designers expect greater commitment to colour

Silver is solidifying its position as the world's leading vehicle colour. But even a colour that has been at the top of the charts for many years needs changes. The “silver of the future” will be more colourful and will be augmented by whites. This is the colour trend forecast that is now being made by designers from BASF Coatings: Michaela Finkenzeller (Europe), Jon Hall (North America) and Eiji Fujimori (Asia-Pacific). Their forecast is based on close consultations with designers from all of the car manufacturers in these regions. Experience has shown that it will take about 3-6 years for the predicted trends to actually appear in passenger vehicle design.

Europe

Silver colours with a touch of green, blue, or beige will replace the conventional “plain” silver shades in Europe and add new colour nuances to vehicle bodies. Michaela Finkenzeller believes that the new trend will be for soft white shades as well as dark silver shades with special effects. “It's a good thing that colour can be interpreted in different ways,” said Finkenzeller. “Borderline colours, subtle colour changes and effects that do not become apparent until the viewer takes a second look at the vehicle are among the goals in our quest for deeper meaning and our desire to attract attention through sophisticated understatement rather than `playing to the audience' with clever effects,” explains Finkenzeller. Mysterious greys, which upon second glance could also be a green, embody this trend. Delicate jade and turquoise colours will break down the boundaries between green and blue.

The new “colour wave” is already making itself felt in small colour increments in the silver range. Cars are becoming more colourful. Reds exhibit greater depth and clarity; green is once again becoming more popular, tending in the direction of petrol hues. In the future, colours in the beige, brown, copper and gold families will be added to the customary colour range of the “neutrals.”

White in various shades is also a new trend for Michaela Finkenzeller: silvery white, chalky white, or a new high-effect white will round out the future colour palette.

In addition to colour and effects, surface finishes add a further dimension to paintwork design. Playing with contrasts will be the order of the day. We shall see cooler, more high tech liquid metal looks next to soft, matte surfaces – surfaces that just call out to be touched. Extremes will not be contrasted, but rather will complement each other – as will also be the case in the interplay of the interior and exterior.

North America

In North America, Jon Hall is also betting on more colour. Colours will be an absolute necessity in the search for an individual style. In addition to the same series of infinitely repeated silver colours, we will also see a new, fine- grained, silky silver and grey silvers revealing various colour nuances. Brushed metal reduces the glitter effect and gives grey and silver tones a fresh new look. Classic red is experiencing a revival. “Red, with dark and blue nuances, is increasingly identified with lifestyle and quality of life,” says Hall, explaining the return to traditional colour. White, in variations with cream-coloured hues, will remain a strong colour, while yellow and orange – mixed with violet, turquoise, lime, lipstick, and cream – will appear in new versions. Blue will continue to be in demand and will be beefed up with new sporty metallic colours featuring turquoise effects. On the other hand, natural green and brown will not be popular. The only exception will be browns based on orange. Dark colours will remain popular, mostly in neutral, grey tones. Some grey colour shades will suggest a subtle conservative sense of high quality.

Asia-Pacific

Colour design in Asia is based on a desire for a higher quality of life: luck, happiness, success, health and even in the relationship to nature affect colour trends and vehicle types. Vehicles in Asia are designed to be fast, but environmentally friendly. Eiji Fujimori, like his colleagues, recommends silver. Relatively small cars will be painted in bright, refreshing colours. On the other hand, larger vehicles will definitely move in the direction of more natural colours. Subtle colour nuances will create a luxurious, seductive appearance. Even dark silver will be supplemented by a colour nuance in order to give this popular colour a subtly different appearance.

According to Fujimori, white is the most important colour in Asia after silver. But this is not a plain white. Whether elegant or sporty, flat ceramic white and subtle shadings will set the tone. Natural and cream colours will follow this trend and create a new friendly atmosphere on the streets. Red will combine with blue to produce a new variant for luxury automobiles. Flame red continues to be the favourite colour for sports cars. Blue is being shaded into green, to produce a special version of ceramic colours. Mixed with violet, blue is becoming a new secret “in” colour. Orange varies greatly depending on the image of the vehicle. Inspired by the natural drama of sunrises and sunsets, golden glossy colours with blue or violet shades are being developed. The look has to be nothing less than striking. This is the only way to help people escape from “the violence and bad side of life,” says Fujimori in linking the trend to social developments.