Forget Black: Ruby Red Is The Car Color Of 2027

Axalta’s 2027 Color of the Year is a deep ruby red with a subtle shimmer designed to give cars a more vibrant, jewel-like finish.

2015 Mazda RX-Vision Concept

Brian Potter

By: Brian Potter

Sep 28, at 1:00pm ET

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Black, white, and gray are some of the most popular car colors in the US. But in 2027, buyers could finally see a little more variety. Axalta Coating Systems has picked its car color of the year for 2027, and it’s called Redefined.

Redefined is a deep ruby red with a subtle shimmer. Axalta unveiled the color earlier this month at Automechanika Frankfurt, a major automotive trade show in Germany. The finish uses coating technology designed to mimic the look and depth of a gemstone. Fancy.

What Makes The Finish Different

Red is one of the oldest colors in automotive paint, but Axalta says Redefined puts a modern spin on the familiar shade. The company says the finish has more depth and a reflective quality that sets it apart from traditional ruby-red paints.

The shimmer comes from the way light interacts with the different layers of the coating, rather than simply relying on metallic flakes. That gives the paint its jewel-like appearance and allows it to look slightly different as the lighting changes.

Mazda RX-Vision Concept

Mazda RX-Vision Concept Deep Red Metallic

Matthew Boland, Vice President of Global Refinish Technology at Axalta, described the thinking behind the pick:

'Redefined represents where we see automotive color going, expressive and individual, but still refined and timeless. The deepness of the ruby tone combined with its luminosity and depth creates a color that comes alive with the vehicle.'

Axalta presents the choice as a response to buyers who want a car that looks personal without sacrificing a finished, upscale appearance. Paint choices like this sit alongside other unusual finishes automakers have rolled out recently, including Infiniti's use of real gold flecks on the 2027 QX65.

2027 Infiniti QX65

2027 Infiniti QX65 Sunfire Red With Gold-Coated Glass Flecks

Photo by: Infiniti

Where Does It Fit In Axalta's History?

Redefined carries a link back to where Axalta's color program began. The company launched its Global Automotive Color of the Year series 13 years ago with a shade called Radiant Red, and Redefined returns the list to that same red family for 2027.

Axalta says the shift from Radiant Red to Redefined tracks how paint technology has moved forward, with pigments and effect coatings now capable of producing depth that wasn't achievable when the program started. The company points to this as evidence of how far its coating science has come.

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The 2027 pick follows a run of very different shades. Axalta named Solar Boost as its color for 2026, Evergreen Sprint for 2025, Starry Night for 2024, Techno Blue for 2023, Royal Magenta for 2022, and Electrolight for 2021.

Automakers have adopted distinctive paint programs of their own in recent years, from BMW's retro-inspired colors on the M340i to Dodge's darker new shades for the 2027 Durango. Axalta did not name specific vehicle programs that will carry Redefined.

More Special Paints:

Only One Ferrari Enzo Was Built Matte Black, Now Up For Private Sale

Lamborghini Honors A Legendary Supercar With Some Fancy Paint

Toyota's New TRD Pro Paint Is Sweet As Honey

Bugatti's Last W16 Hypercar Gets A Touching One-Off Tribute

Source: Axalta

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