International. BASF unveiled its collection of 65 colors for automotive surfaces, as part of its annual Automobile Color Trends 2018-19 report: "Keep it Real."
Dark colors, blue tones and complex effects represent the omnipresence of technology
The omnipresence of technology is reflected in Automotive Color Trends. Shades of grey and blue are the focal point of the collection. Achromatic colors are combined with complex effects that add colorful and natural accents and represent the fusion of reality and the virtual world. Blue tones, which reflect the color of screens and digital light, appear as strong saturated colors. Natural textures and color effects symbolize the search for human qualities in a virtual world.
Scrolling functions: new mobility concepts will influence colour choices
Concepts of car-sharing, transportation services, and autonomous driving shift the function of the car from a personally owned object to a more public mode of transportation. For cars that are designed to share, color palettes with universal appeal will play an important role. The trend collection shows how elaborate textures and intricate effects can make each color truly unique.
In addition, BASF addresses future mobility with the development of functional colours. The colors selected from the collection feature a coating system that mitigates heat buildup on the surface of the vehicle. Other innovations include colors with state-of-the-art functionality, increased reflectivity for greater LiDAR detection capability, without compromising its aesthetic appeal.
South America: Transformation of Classic Color Spaces
The colors for South America offer a visual connection to the diversity of the region. Two of the most popular color spaces in the automotive market, black and white, are transformed into elegant and eclectic automotive coatings. Coriolis Force, the key colour of the region, reflects the care and respect of traditional crafts and knowledge passed down over generations. The dark shade exudes a luxurious effect, which is created by using a reddish gold flake. Under a strong light source, it creates a genuine aesthetic for the region.
North America: Expansion of color horizons
The real- and virtual-world connection, as well as the relationship between earth and space, is captured in BASF's key color, Atomium Sky, which is predicted to influence vehicle models in North America in 2022. This is the second year in a row that BASF has selected a blue as a key colour, demonstrating its growing importance in this region. Atomium Sky is a deeply saturated blue with a medium roughness that changes to a softer, semi-opaque hue, exuding joy and demonstrating a futuristic and progressive vision.
Diversity is driven by economic and purchasing trends, and the evolving mobility landscape. Highlights of North American colors include:
- Metal's Mettle: a medium to dark gray with a coarseness and a dynamic shine that demonstrates the cold rawness and minimalism of urbanism.
- Centripetal blue: A blue-black color with a thick medium brightness improves the detectability and performance of autonomous vehicles.
- Kleur: A bright, vibrant red inspires a sense of connection with high saturation that makes it more visible, an important feature for self-driving vehicles.
Asia Pacific: search for quality in real life
People in the Asia Pacific region have an ambivalent relationship with technology. They freely offer their personal data to companies that make everyday life more convenient and adopt emotional bonds with machines with artificial intelligence. At the same time, the desire for human and real-life contacts and experiences reshapes public spaces in cities. Grey Ambivalence, a dazzling metallic grey, represents the integration of high-performance technology into everyday life. It is balanced by a solid flop that connects with the real world.
EMEA: Living in urban spaces
In the EMEA region, the use of public space is changing, and real places are taking on new value. They invite people to take a break from the digital world. Gray hues are based on this trend. With their associations with the concrete, they represent urbanity and, along with haptic effects, allude to the importance of what can be truly experienced. Extraordinary effects symbolize the desire for attention. The metallic anthracite "The Urbanist" represents the globally connected urban cosmopolitan. At the same time, it represents the mixture of humans and technology.
