
Damon takes a closer look at the most-interesting colors seen at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show.
Bored with beige? Sick of silver? Weary of white? Tired of tan? Chagrined by champagne? Troubled b… OK, sorry, we’ll stop. Though muted, conservative colors seem to dominate in the new-vehicle marketplace, most manufacturers offer at least a couple unusual hues in their factory-paint palettes. Auto shows are a great place to see these colors up close and in person on a new vehicle, instead of looking at a computer screen or a paint chip at the dealer. If you’re an extroverted type who wants your ride to turn heads, an out-of-the-ordinary color is a great way to do it. Keep in mind, however, that these colors can fall out of fashion much quicker than the “safe” standby colors, which can be an issue come resale time.
We took a quick lap of the 2017 Chicago Auto Show with the mission of finding interesting, off-the-beaten-path colors that are a bit bolder and more expressive than your average ho-hum hues. Our gallery is not a comprehensive list; it’s simply a sampling of production-car colors and finishes that caught our eye on the show floor. (Note that we avoided straightforward fire-engine reds; those are certainly eye-grabbing, but not particularly unusual.) These are all factory-available colors; some are extra-cost or available only as part of a special package, others are on the standard options list. Yes, a couple of these vehicles are expensive, but most are very affordable and accessible. It’s doubtful that you’ll like every color here, but we bet you’ll find at least one that tickles your fancy. Enjoy!
More from the Chicago Auto Show
2017 Auto Paint Colors
Krypton Green

2017 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE in Krypton Green
Brimstone

2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ in Brimstone
Latte Menta

2017 Fiat 500 Cabrio in Latte Menta
Tristrato Tricoat Yellow

2017 Fiat 500X in Giallo Tristrato Tricoat Yellow
Chrome Copper

2017 Ford Fiesta hatchback in Chrome Copper
Techno Pink to Lemonade: The Many Colors of the Chevrolet Spark
Bohai Bay Mint

2017 Ford Fiesta sedan in Bohai Bay Mint
Triple Yellow

2017 Ford Focus ST in Triple Yellow
Sandstorm

2017 Honda CR-V in Sandstorm (at first glance, this might look like a boring beige hue—but in person it’s just enough off the “norm” to be interesting)
Rhapsody Blue

2017 Lincoln Continental in Rhapsody Blue
Radiant Green/Iceberg two-tone

2018 Toyota C-HR in Radiant Green/Iceberg two-tone
Tangerine Splash Pearl

2017 Toyota Prius c in Tangerine Splash Pearl
Kurkuma Yellow Metallic

2018 Volkswagen Atlas in Kurkuma Yellow Metallic
Habanero Orange Metallic

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan in Habanero Orange Metallic
Rebel Blue

2017 Volvo V60 Polestar in Rebel Blue
Flat-out Funky: The 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo’s Matte Gray Paint Option
2017 Auto Paint Colors
Local Color: Unusual Paint Hues at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show