[ANSWERED] How are Colors Selected for Corvettes?
10-31-2016, 12:32 PM
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[ANSWERED] How are Colors Selected for Corvettes?
The original question is here.
Reason222 asked:
I'm curious to know what kind of process goes into choosing the colors that will be available for Corvettes. I may be the odd guy out, but I feel like the colors available for corvette tend to stay pretty generic. I'm sure Black, red, gray, white and blue are your biggest sellers and kind of standard. Why not use some of the extra color "slots" you have available to use something more vibrant and interesting.
You could make a lighter green, lime green, or a lighter orange, or a lighter shade of purple. Sure they might not be high sellers, but that's what your "standard" colors could be for. Why keep changing the shade of gray, or having multiple reds? Is the market you're missing for these lighter, more vibrant colors not large enough to offset the cost? or is there some other force that keeps corvettes in dark shades of pretty much everything.
I'm curious to know what kind of process goes into choosing the colors that will be available for Corvettes. I may be the odd guy out, but I feel like the colors available for corvette tend to stay pretty generic. I'm sure Black, red, gray, white and blue are your biggest sellers and kind of standard. Why not use some of the extra color "slots" you have available to use something more vibrant and interesting.
You could make a lighter green, lime green, or a lighter orange, or a lighter shade of purple. Sure they might not be high sellers, but that's what your "standard" colors could be for. Why keep changing the shade of gray, or having multiple reds? Is the market you're missing for these lighter, more vibrant colors not large enough to offset the cost? or is there some other force that keeps corvettes in dark shades of pretty much everything.
Tadge answered:
Interesting question Reason222.
As your question reflects, customers are extremely passionate about color choices. We have an entire department here at GM dedicated to the determination of interior and exterior colors for all our vehicles. They study color trends around the world in automotive, housing, interior design, fashion clothing and other areas where color plays a role in customer delight. As you point out, there are some preferences that have reliable demand and other colors that are more "faddish", meaning they get hot for a while and then disappear. It would be a lot easier if we could pick a palette of interior colors and exterior colors separately. But they have to go together. We have seen some killer interiors that just don't look good with many of our exterior colors. So one of the challenges is to make sure we have many great combinations, not just great standalone colors. Despite all the new exciting colors, our top sellers are the three oldest colors in the palette: Arctic White, Black, and Torch Red. These are classic Corvette colors and we have learned from experience not to mess with them. These are staples and will continue to carry-on. The Blade silver is also a must-have for a sports car and our Corvette Racing Yellow is linked to our successful C7.R racing program. Recently we introduced four new colors. Two are inspired by historic colors: Admiral Blue and Black Rose. The other two colors are all new: Watkins Glen Gray and Sterling Blue. We always try to make sure we have a mix of conservative colors and expressive vibrant ones.
Another factor we consider when choosing a color is making sure it simply looks good on the body. Many colors that may look striking on a color sample simply don't translate into an attractive package on an assembled Corvette. By picking colors that accentuate the Corvette's crisp lines we can enhance the overall design theme. When incorporating metallic paints we consider how the color travels as it flows across the curves of the car's body. With a paint that demonstrates this color travel or flop (these are industry terms for a color's variation in hue when light is reflected off the painted surface at differing angles) we evaluate the finished product to make sure it is still appealing when viewed from different directions. By incorporating a tinted clear coat with some of our colors, we can add a depth and richness that is not readily possible with a basecoat alone further enhancing the beauty of the vehicle.
The reason we put so much effort into choosing colors is that it is an expensive, complex process to put a new color into production. Most customers assume we just order paint from a supplier and paint the car, but it is not that simple. Automotive paints are highly engineered chemical mixes that have to meet very challenging requirements for adhesion and durability in addition to looking pretty on all the different substrates (panel materials) we use. Every new color must spray out evenly and provide a consistent finish over the entire panel on every Corvette. Because Corvette is a composite car, every paint color we use is custom mixed for us. We do not share paint with any other car in the world. Even a standard color like black is unique for us. Paint color is not only sensitive to the substrate, it is highly dependent on the process used to apply it. Lengthy trials are typically required to get the color and quality right. Panels are painted over and over resulting in a lot of scrap material (cost). In addition to the work done in Bowling Green, all our suppliers from whom we buy painted parts (like mirrors) have to work their processes so the parts match perfectly. Once we have a color in production, managing low volume colors becomes problematic. Since the same robots paint every car, we have to clean the system delivering the paint to the robot every time we have to paint a different color. That is why when you visit Bowling Green you will see many cars of the same color coming down the line in a row - We group like-colored orders together. When the penetration of a color goes below 5% the costs become unmanageable so we look to replace it with something more customers will choose. We have done a lot of great colors that many people really like, but unless it is their favorite over all the others, it doesn't sell. A lot of people love Corvettes in yellow but in spite of the fact that the C7.R is yellow, few people actually buy it (Don't worry, even though it is a low volume color, we have no intention of getting rid of it any time soon).
Thanks very much for the question. We are keenly interested in picking colors our customers will love. Right now the trend is towards more expressive so your sentiments are in line with the way palettes are moving. I should also mention that our new paint shop currently under construction at our Bowling Green Plant is installing additional technology that will allow for expanded color choices in the future. Look forward to more exciting colors coming soon!
Interesting question Reason222.
As your question reflects, customers are extremely passionate about color choices. We have an entire department here at GM dedicated to the determination of interior and exterior colors for all our vehicles. They study color trends around the world in automotive, housing, interior design, fashion clothing and other areas where color plays a role in customer delight. As you point out, there are some preferences that have reliable demand and other colors that are more "faddish", meaning they get hot for a while and then disappear. It would be a lot easier if we could pick a palette of interior colors and exterior colors separately. But they have to go together. We have seen some killer interiors that just don't look good with many of our exterior colors. So one of the challenges is to make sure we have many great combinations, not just great standalone colors. Despite all the new exciting colors, our top sellers are the three oldest colors in the palette: Arctic White, Black, and Torch Red. These are classic Corvette colors and we have learned from experience not to mess with them. These are staples and will continue to carry-on. The Blade silver is also a must-have for a sports car and our Corvette Racing Yellow is linked to our successful C7.R racing program. Recently we introduced four new colors. Two are inspired by historic colors: Admiral Blue and Black Rose. The other two colors are all new: Watkins Glen Gray and Sterling Blue. We always try to make sure we have a mix of conservative colors and expressive vibrant ones.
Another factor we consider when choosing a color is making sure it simply looks good on the body. Many colors that may look striking on a color sample simply don't translate into an attractive package on an assembled Corvette. By picking colors that accentuate the Corvette's crisp lines we can enhance the overall design theme. When incorporating metallic paints we consider how the color travels as it flows across the curves of the car's body. With a paint that demonstrates this color travel or flop (these are industry terms for a color's variation in hue when light is reflected off the painted surface at differing angles) we evaluate the finished product to make sure it is still appealing when viewed from different directions. By incorporating a tinted clear coat with some of our colors, we can add a depth and richness that is not readily possible with a basecoat alone further enhancing the beauty of the vehicle.
The reason we put so much effort into choosing colors is that it is an expensive, complex process to put a new color into production. Most customers assume we just order paint from a supplier and paint the car, but it is not that simple. Automotive paints are highly engineered chemical mixes that have to meet very challenging requirements for adhesion and durability in addition to looking pretty on all the different substrates (panel materials) we use. Every new color must spray out evenly and provide a consistent finish over the entire panel on every Corvette. Because Corvette is a composite car, every paint color we use is custom mixed for us. We do not share paint with any other car in the world. Even a standard color like black is unique for us. Paint color is not only sensitive to the substrate, it is highly dependent on the process used to apply it. Lengthy trials are typically required to get the color and quality right. Panels are painted over and over resulting in a lot of scrap material (cost). In addition to the work done in Bowling Green, all our suppliers from whom we buy painted parts (like mirrors) have to work their processes so the parts match perfectly. Once we have a color in production, managing low volume colors becomes problematic. Since the same robots paint every car, we have to clean the system delivering the paint to the robot every time we have to paint a different color. That is why when you visit Bowling Green you will see many cars of the same color coming down the line in a row - We group like-colored orders together. When the penetration of a color goes below 5% the costs become unmanageable so we look to replace it with something more customers will choose. We have done a lot of great colors that many people really like, but unless it is their favorite over all the others, it doesn't sell. A lot of people love Corvettes in yellow but in spite of the fact that the C7.R is yellow, few people actually buy it (Don't worry, even though it is a low volume color, we have no intention of getting rid of it any time soon).
Thanks very much for the question. We are keenly interested in picking colors our customers will love. Right now the trend is towards more expressive so your sentiments are in line with the way palettes are moving. I should also mention that our new paint shop currently under construction at our Bowling Green Plant is installing additional technology that will allow for expanded color choices in the future. Look forward to more exciting colors coming soon!
Last edited by jvp; 10-31-2016 at 12:34 PM.
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10-31-2016, 04:56 PM
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Like the expanded color choices that are coming.
10-31-2016, 08:24 PM
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I would love to see expanded color choices. Honestly the three colors I think would look awesome are Lime Green, Plum Purple, and like a bright Inferno Orange. Colors you typically only see on things like lambo's. why? Because the C7 would not only pull it off, but would pull it off well..
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11-01-2016, 12:59 PM
#5
Pearl White?
I have always wondered why Corvettes are not painted in Pearl tricoat white. You can buy many GM models in that color, even trucks. I was so disappointed when the 2013 Corvett 427's only came in the tired old Artic White. Why are corvettes not available in Pearl tricoat or Pearl White?
11-02-2016, 09:52 AM
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I have always wondered why Corvettes are not painted in Pearl tricoat white. You can buy many GM models in that color, even trucks. I was so disappointed when the 2013 Corvett 427's only came in the tired old Artic White. Why are corvettes not available in Pearl tricoat or Pearl White?
11-03-2016, 12:38 PM
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C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Anyone who thinks Admiral Blue doesn't look like the prettiest blue ever on a car is nuts, it should be standard from now until forever.
11-03-2016, 05:04 PM
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11-04-2016, 07:32 AM
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Nassau Blue by a marathon mile.
And I am sure more than a few would agree quality of the paint job can be greatly improved. (orange peel)
And I am sure more than a few would agree quality of the paint job can be greatly improved. (orange peel)
11-04-2016, 08:50 PM
#13
Safety Car
I have always wondered why Corvettes are not painted in Pearl tricoat white. You can buy many GM models in that color, even trucks. I was so disappointed when the 2013 Corvett 427's only came in the tired old Artic White. Why are corvettes not available in Pearl tricoat or Pearl White?
11-06-2016, 06:59 AM
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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
11-06-2016, 03:35 PM
#15
WOW! I wasn't expecting my question to get to Tadge lol. It was a pretty satisfying response too so thanks Tadge. out of all the colors the C7 has been available in, I would've purchased any of the below:
Lime rock green
Daytona Sunrise Orange
Laguna Blue
But by the time i was ready to get mine all of those choices were gone so black it was. Soon it'll be wrapped in a sweet metallic emerald green though.
Lime rock green
Daytona Sunrise Orange
Laguna Blue
But by the time i was ready to get mine all of those choices were gone so black it was. Soon it'll be wrapped in a sweet metallic emerald green though.
11-06-2016, 11:23 PM
#16
Drifting
