1 in 4 people in the UK buy the same colour car each year. In 1998, revealed the SMMT, this would be a red car. In 2008, though, it was silver.
Think this has led to a big change in the UK motoring scene? Well, yes, in a sense, it has. 12 years ago, car showrooms were heavy on the red.
Today, every new car on the road seems to be silver, such is the dominance of the designer’s favourite hue.
However, the changes may not be as big as you think. Second-favourite in 1998? Blue. Second-favourite in 2008? Er, blue… Different shades of, granted, but still consistent dominance.
3rd in 1998 was white. 3rd in 2008 was black. This initially had me questioning the stats: surely, given white’s current popularity, it should be the other way around? Ah but no. Speak to anyone in the industry and they’ll say the current white flurry is led by fashion. White wasn’t quite in fashion during 2008. It’s a more recent thing: thus, how long will it last?
Back to silver, though. It sat in 5th place back in 1998, with just 9 percent of people choosing it. By its very nature, though, silver is metallic, so means a cost-extra on most cars. Is the switch thus just a change of a wealthier economy? Or is it car brands’ modern-day, cynically-dull non-metallic paint colour options..?
Do please, ahem, feel free to spell out your thoughts in black and white (groan).
Top colours 2008
1 Silver: 25%
2 Blue: 24%
3 Black: 14%
4 Red: 13%
5 Green: 9%
Top colours 1998
1 Red: 26%
2 Blue: 25%
3 White: 13%
4 Green: 10%
5 Silver: 9%
Peugeot car ads give the game away
BMW PR shows professionalism of industry
Audi gets Ashes To Ashes at Geneva
