A dark ruby finish designed to show brighter highlights across a vehicle’s curves has been named the 2027 Global Automotive Color of the Year.
Axalta Coating Systems, a Philadelphia-based manufacturer of automotive and industrial coatings, introduced Redefined at Automechanika Frankfurt on 2026-09-08.
The finish combines a deep red base with reflective effects. Areas exposed to direct light appear brighter, while shaded panels retain a darker tone. Axalta describes the result as a modern version of a traditional automotive colour.
“Redefined represents where we see automotive colour going: expressive and individual, but still refined and timeless,” said Matthew Boland, vice-president of global refinish technology at Axalta.
The selection marks a return to the colour that started the company’s annual program. Axalta chose Radiant Red when it introduced its first Global Automotive Color of the Year 13 years ago.
Since then, new pigments and effect materials have given coating designers more control over how red finishes respond to light. Redefined uses those developments to produce greater contrast across a vehicle’s body lines.
Axalta selects its annual colour after reviewing consumer preferences and wider automotive and design trends. Its colour specialists then work to turn those findings into coatings that vehicle manufacturers can produce.
