Colours - contentious issue of the day

[AB-UK]

Volvo are trying hard to attract a younger, more dynamic customer base, just look at their poster, print media and TV advertising, but boy, are the colours they choose boring!!!!!

Just as an example, the new V60 has a choice of 4 different greys - yes 4!
Plus "Birch Light" which looks grey also. So 5 greys!!
It won't be long before this wonderful choice is available for the XC90 also I'm sure.
Even the Bronze, which at least had a hint of sparkle in it, has gone and it's been replaced by a Brown.

Where are the brighter colours of old, the yellows, greens, deep red, light blue?

Painting now is computerised - different colours prepared and sprayed at the touch of a button. It isn't rocket science, but computer science.

I know everyone has a subjective view of colour, and many buyers may love shades of grey (should be a novel about this in every glovebox), so I'm not trying to disparage anyone's current choices. However, you only have to look at other marques on the road, Peugeot, Mazda, even Ford, to see the unusual and often attractive colours which can be applied to cars these days.

It has to be said that modern Volvos are now far from cheap, with the higher spec ones over £70K, but the choice of colours is woeful.

[Philip Fisher]

There is a red metallic which Renault do which is fantastic. Especially in the bright sun.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by AB-UK

Volvo are trying hard to attract a younger, more dynamic customer base, just look at their poster, print media and TV advertising, but boy, are the colours they choose boring!!!!!

Just as an example, the new V60 has a choice of 4 different greys - yes 4!
Plus "Birch Light" which looks grey also. So 5 greys!!
It won't be long before this wonderful choice is available for the XC90 also I'm sure.
Even the Bronze, which at least had a hint of sparkle in it, has gone and it's been replaced by a Brown.

Where are the brighter colours of old, the yellows, greens, deep red, light blue?

Painting now is computerised - different colours prepared and sprayed at the touch of a button. It isn't rocket science, but computer science.

I know everyone has a subjective view of colour, and many buyers may love shades of grey (should be a novel about this in every glovebox), so I'm not trying to disparage anyone's current choices. However, you only have to look at other marques on the road, Peugeot, Mazda, even Ford, to see the unusual and often attractive colours which can be applied to cars these days.

It has to be said that modern Volvos are now far from cheap, with the higher spec ones over £70K, but the choice of colours is woeful.

I would think volvo decide colours on exactly what the customer wants from research . Can't beat solid red though :-)

[andy_d]

as long as they dont offer "dog-doings brown" as i have seen on a "kuga" (or other hipstermobile pos thing~) its not as bad as it Could be,,

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by AB-UK

Volvo are trying hard to attract a younger, more dynamic customer base, just look at their poster, print media and TV advertising, but boy, are the colours they choose boring!!!!!

Just as an example, the new V60 has a choice of 4 different greys - yes 4!
Plus "Birch Light" which looks grey also. So 5 greys!!
It won't be long before this wonderful choice is available for the XC90 also I'm sure.
Even the Bronze, which at least had a hint of sparkle in it, has gone and it's been replaced by a Brown.

Where are the brighter colours of old, the yellows, greens, deep red, light blue?

Painting now is computerised - different colours prepared and sprayed at the touch of a button. It isn't rocket science, but computer science.

I know everyone has a subjective view of colour, and many buyers may love shades of grey (should be a novel about this in every glovebox), so I'm not trying to disparage anyone's current choices. However, you only have to look at other marques on the road, Peugeot, Mazda, even Ford, to see the unusual and often attractive colours which can be applied to cars these days.

It has to be said that modern Volvos are now far from cheap, with the higher spec ones over £70K, but the choice of colours is woeful.

I agree but suspect that their factory’s paint shop has limited storage for more paint colours and lacks the facility two apply two or more colours to one body. That can obviously be done in their Dutch factory, because the XC40 can have a contrasting roof colour.

While black, white and various shades of silver and grey dominate car sales generally, I’m sure that there is scope to be far more adventurous.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

There is a red metallic which Renault do which is fantastic. Especially in the bright sun.

Mitsubishi also have a stunning deep metallic red. JLR also have some nice colours plus a lovely selection of interior colour and material combinations.

[AB-UK]

Mazda also have a nice dark red/Crimson.

My first Volvo was a lovely Dark Olive Pearl (Green).
I'd like another!

I don't know how Volvo do their research, but I have never been asked about colours (or anyhing else for that matter).

Strangely enough, I did write to Volvo about colours many years ago, and they actually replied saying the decision on colours was made on the basis of sales figures.
So, offer a limited number of colours amd make many of them grey, then "Obviously" the British public prefer to buy grey Volvos.
Hence so many different greys available for the new V60 - a self-fulfilling prophecy if ever there was one.

[Fursty Ferret]

I'm already regretting a change from fusion red to Pebble Grey and I've not even got the car yet. Unfortunately I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that it's identical to the hideous "champagne gold" that Rover and Vauxhall used to use but wisely got rid of.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by AB-UK

Mazda also have a nice dark red/Crimson.

You are right and it is the Mazda I meant, not Mitsubishi. It is stunningly beautiful on their CX5

[SuffolkBoy]

Originally Posted by Quacker

You are right and it is the Mazda I meant, not Mitsubishi. It is stunningly beautiful on their CX5

I had a CX-5 in Soul Red before changing to the XC60 - it is a beautiful colour and I got a lot of favourable comments about it.