[ghporter]

I introduce the concept of “defensive coloration” in reference to automobiles.

I saw a Dodge Charger yesterday in a color that is particularly close to safety neon yellow. The first thing I thought when I saw it was “If anyone runs into that car and claims they didn’t see it, the judge would be fully justified in revoking that person’s license on the grounds of blindness.”

I’ve thought about this sort of “defensive” application of color when I’ve seen very visible cars before, but they were all more mundane models. Fiat 500s, Mitsubishi Mirages, and so on.

The safety neon yellow color is used in “hi-vis” vests, shirts, etc. to make darn sure the wearer is quite visible. I applied this when picking out running shirts: they are close to that same color.

I just thought that this concept was worth sharing…

[Laminar]

We were at the dealership picking up my truck and my 6yo wondered why cars only come in grayscale colors. I pointer her to a row of Dodge Challengers in various shades of blue, purple, and bright green to show that not everything is boring colors.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I got a dark red truck. It’s a pretty sweet colour. I really don’t see the analogy about not seeing the vehicle because of the colour. “I didn’t see the vehicle I was required to avoid” is not a defence anyway.

[Thorzdad]

The Charger color sounds like a modern update/homage to the funky colors Dodge and Plymouth put on their “performance” cars, like the Charger, Road Runner, Challenger, etc. back in the late 60s and 70s.

The current color fad I don’t understand is this bright, medium primer gray I see on so many newer cars. It’s a flat, non-metallic color that just looks wrong. Like you’re looking at a photograph that someone’s done a color-correction on in photoshop, but didn’t adjust the gamma or offset properly, so the exposure of the car color is way more forward from the background exposure. It’s certainly eye-catching, but not in a good way.

I’ve always tried to get my cars in a nice color, or black if no fun/nice color was available. I had a GM Sonoma back in the day that came in a color called radar blue metallic. It was one of those paints that would color-shift depending on the light. The truck could be dark blue from one angle, and drift into a bright purple at another angle. It was pretty cool.

Our Forester has a similar paint, but it often looks pitch black, but then glittery dark blue, and then a more purpleish blue.

[subego]

I’ve had 3 blacks and one white. In that order.

I kinda like the primer grey on the right car.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Thorzdad 

The current color fad I don’t understand is this bright, medium primer gray I see on so many newer cars. It’s a flat, non-metallic color that just looks wrong. Like you’re looking at a photograph that someone’s done a color-correction on in photoshop, but didn’t adjust the gamma or offset properly, so the exposure of the car color is way more forward from the background exposure. It’s certainly eye-catching, but not in a good way.

"Nardo Gray," Audi came out with in in 2013 and other manufacturers took it + lots of people are painting/wrapping their cars similarly.

[subego]

I was going to say Audis can be an example of it working. Subarus too.

[andi*pandi]

the "young people" cars have bright colors. Subaru crosstrek has an acid yellow green, orange, and a baby blue. Outback is all darker colors.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I like that blue-grey pavement colour. I think Honda has one called “Sonic Grey”….not sure if it’s something we’ll think was a really bad idea in 8 years, but I’ve enjoyed it.

[Waragainstsleep]

I rather like these bronze coloured cars.

[Thorzdad]

Yes!!! I love those colors.

[OreoCookie]

I really hate grays for cars, especially fast sports cars. Too much black is also a turn-off. If you buy a fancy sports car with lots of muscular bulges, IMHO you gotta go for something colorful. Ditto for a small fun car.

[dav]

always thought the polestar blue was sweet...

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep 

I rather like these bronze coloured cars.

I remember this as a Nissan color from the early 2000s on the Muranos.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by dav 

always thought the polestar blue was sweet...

That's like Ford's Grabber Blue

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I associate that bronze with Murano too

[Brien]

Ford’s ‘Performance Blue’ (burple) is still my favorite.

…I like Nardo Gray. Almost bought a GTI in that color.