Autoblog

Why a Florida field is important to your car's paint

Zach Bowman — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Videos

If you've ever wondered how automakers know their paints will stand up to the test of time, a field in Florida may have your answer. Manufacturers routinely turn to Q-Lab, a facility situated on a 20-acre open field just outside of Homestead, Florida for durability testing. There, the company's engineers apply automotive paint to twelve-inch by 4-inch metal panels and leave them to bake in the unforgiving sun. The facility's location next to Everglades National Park is ideal for testing paint fade and durability due to the high humidity, heat and sunlight.

Owner Mike Crewdson says the samples may spend as long as seven to 10 years baking in the elements before they ever get sprayed on a production vehicle. Technicians receive a staggering amount of data on weather and paint conditions every day-up to 40,000 readings. Various manufacturers participate in these evaluations, but General Motors says it has been testing paint like this since the 1920s. Check out the local news broadcast embedded below for a closer look at the process.

Continue reading Why a Florida field is important to your car's paint

Why a Florida field is important to your car's paint originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

White remains world's most popular car paint color, copper and bronze rising

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Design/Style

When it came to paint colors on new cars, for ten years, silver was the one hue to rule them all, not just extending its lead through 2009 and 2010 but doing so in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The revolution came in 2011, when white took over as the top color in the States and black claimed the number one spot in Europe, silver maintaining its hold in the Orient.

The annual study by the paint experts at PPG Industries notes how the the colorless hue has made more gains this year, white cars being the number one choice here and in Europe and tied for first place with silver cars in Asia. Black took second place in every market. Here, silver and gray grabbed third place, while our European cousins displayed their taste for 50 shades of metallic: gray took third place on its own, silver in fourth, four points behind. In Asia, "natural," which includes browns, tans, golds, oranges and yellows, was the pigment of choice after white and black.

Further back in the pack, mineral and alloy shades like gold, copper and bronze are getting more buyers, and based on some of the colors being previewed for 2015 and 2016 it looks like our automotive future has more than a chance of sparkle. The PPG press release below has all the trends and the numbers.

Continue reading White remains world's most popular car paint color, copper and bronze rising

White remains world's most popular car paint color, copper and bronze rising originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bird poo does not destroy your car's paint... at least not by itself

Chris Shunk — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Every summer we're stuck with the same dilemma. We can park the car out in the sun, which will inevitably will lead to scorching hot interior temperatures. The alternative is to park under a shady tree, where birds will undoubtedly poop all over our freshly washed ride. We usually opt for the sun out of auto vanity, but at least we don't have to worry about bird poop messing with the paint.

We've heard that acid from the bird droppings is the reason for the doo-doo perforations, but a study by UK car care experts Autoglym reveals that the excrement is only part of the problem. The real culprit is the sun, which expands and warms the paint on your vehicle. When the sun hits that bird poop, the poo hardens at the same time the paint expands. When the sun sets and the vehicle cools, the paint then contracts and forms itself around the hardened crap.

If a bird does his or her business on your vehicle, the best thing to do is remove it, and fast. A moist cloth will do the trick in most instances, or if you're not into close encounters of the rectal kind, you could also hit the car wash. We would go into more detail, but we're thinking that's enough excrement talk for one day. You can, however, hit the jump for more detail via the Autoglym press release.

Continue reading Bird poo does not destroy your car's paint... at least not by itself

Bird poo does not destroy your car's paint... at least not by itself originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Polishing your car soon to be passe'?

Joel Arellano — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, BMW

BMW is working on a new type of paint that will effectively make those weekend wash and wax chores obsolete. The technology was first introduced on the BMW M Coupe concept at last year's Frankfurt's show. Don't expect the technology to be available any time soon, though. Says Timo Gobel, project manager for the coupe, "It is a big technical challenge. There are many changes necessary, from the factory paintshop to caring for the finish. We have no idea yet on how we will be able to repair it." Currently, the paint is being tested to measure its resistance to such common irritants as tree sap to tar to fingerprints.

[Source: Herald Sun via CARSguide]

Polishing your car soon to be passe'? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jun 2006 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments