For
the first time in its five-year history, Axalta’s Automotive Color of the Year
is showcasing a colour primed for vehicle customisation both at manufacturing
facilities and in the aftermarket. Sahara, a golden bronze tone, radiates
warmth, richness and strength for vehicles of all sizes – especially the
expanding global truck and SUV markets – and can serve as the principal colour
for two-tone possibilities including black roofs.
“At
Axalta, we are seeing car designers leaning toward options for two-toning,
accent roofs and stripes,” said Nancy Lockhart, Axalta Global Color Marketing
Manager. “When it comes to mass customisation, Sahara is the type of colour
that can serve as the foundation for these premium options,” she added.
Derived
from Axalta’s Chroma Dyne line of color coats formulated for global automotive
manufacturers, Sahara is partly inspired by global trends for warmer shades
highlighted in the company’s Global Automotive Color Popularity Report.
Yellow/gold vehicles are most popular in India and China while brown/beige
vehicles increased in North America more than any other region.
Sahara
is Axalta’s fifth Color of the Year following Radiant Red (2015), Brilliant
Blue (2016), Gallant Gray (2017), and StarLite (2018). StarLite, a pearlescent white,
introduced coatings technology into the autonomous vehicle discussions. Axalta
colours under development are tested for readability by autonomous sensors, and
Sahara is formulated for visibility.
According
to Dan Benton, Axalta Refinish Color Marketing Manager, Axalta’s Color of the
Year is another example of how Axalta transfers OEM technology to the
aftermarket and repair businesses. “We get calls every year from some of the
industry’s best custom builders looking to use colour to differentiate their
products,” he said, adding that “We have Sahara formulated and ready-to-go in
our industry-leading refinish brands including Croma™, Standox and Spies
Hecker.”