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

Well, my favorite car color seems to fit me; Deep purple. The actual color of my car, on the other hand...

* Black — Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics

What can I say?

* Deep Purple — Creative, individualistic - Not one of the SHEEP!

How true!

Edited September 4, 200718 yr by Pontiac Custom-S

Ummmm... my car color? I think it fits me perfectly.

Dark cranberry - Fruit. `Mo.

Vibrant Red — Sexy, speedy, high-energy and dynamic, sounds pretty accurate

Black — Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics

That colour chart is sooooo cool! If i think about customers, and their personality traits and what colours they ultimately end up buying, there are really no surprises there. There is very little surprising about the colour preferences as well. The only thing I would add to silver's description is "loves the ability of dirt to blend right in and still retain the appearance of clean"

Choice 1: Black — Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics

Choice 2: Silver — Elegant, loves futuristic looks, cool

Edited September 4, 200718 yr by K.C.

I would agree that I am trustworthy and well-balanced. Traditional? Some of the time.

"Stealth Gray/Blue Granite: sexy beyond all description." Hmmm... I can live with that. :AH-HA_wink:

I'm still a fan of deep blue and silver (my current car colors)... I'm leaning toward a dark metallic red or maroon for my next car. I've done dark gray, gold and bright red in the past, would probably do dark gray again, but not bright red.

"Stealth Gray/Blue Granite: sexy beyond all description." Hmmm... I can live with that. :AH-HA_wink:

You forgot incredibly modest. :AH-HA_wink:

You forgot incredibly modest. :AH-HA_wink:

* Taupe / Light Brown — Timeless, basic and simple tastes

*nods*

Yep.

* Black — Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics

Correct again .

* Bright Yellow-Green — Trendy, whimsical, lively

Hmm....lively most definitely.

* Deep Brown — Down-to-earth, no-nonsense

Yessir....

But ... what about light blue?

Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker

WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"I wanna drive" ... Trace Adkins ... '(Her Favorite Color Is) Chrome'

* Black — Empowered, not easily manipulated, loves elegance, appreciates classics

* Dark Green — Traditional, trustworthy, well-balanced

duh....

Edited September 5, 200718 yr by Oldsmoboi

Choice 2: Silver — Elegant, loves futuristic looks, cool

Silver's my nr.2 choice as well: great minds think alike indeed!

I think they should have added 'car looks clean even when it has a 3 inch dust layer on it' on the 'silver' entry

Edited September 5, 200718 yr by ZL-1

Sunshine Yellow — Sunny disposition, joyful and young at heart

Yep, that's me

-RBB