Colour has always played a pivotal role in the development of new cars. It impacts how the model is perceived not only from the day it is revealed but also years – decades – down the line. Designers are tasked with balancing the need for longevity with the fickle nature of fashion that can quickly see decisions looking out-dated.

With this in mind, keeping on top of trends is vital but so is forecasting what is coming down the line. One of the companies that has been pivotal in leading this research is WGSN, which in tandem with sister company Coloro has been gathering data from across the globe to support designers in any field where colour is important. Spoiler alert: there are quite a few, automotive being one of them.

WGSN and Coloro recently hosted a livestream to share an update on the latest trend forecast and to release their Colour of the Year for 2024 and 2025. In essence, it is about helping designers figure out which colours they should add to their palette for upcoming projects, and working with them to ensure the chemical make-up of those colours are applicable for different projects. Colour of the Year 2026 will be coming soon, we’re told.

Colour of the Year for 2024 is Apricot Crush, a selection that resulted partly by tracking the rise of orange in wellness. “It really speaks to today’s consumers who seek light and positivity, and a colour that brings warmth to design,” says Urangoo Samba, head of colour at WGSN. “I haven’t seen it enter the mainstream just yet, but I expect to see it filtering across all industries in the coming months.”

Apricot Crush is described as…