Henry Ford once famously said that customers could have their cars painted in any colour ‘as long as it’s black.’ Since then, manufacturers have come a long way, offering paint colours with fanciful names ranging from the evocative Moondust Silver to the faintly terrifying Mafia Blue.
Yet drivers still err on the side of caution – in 2019, according to the SMMT, Britain’s favourite car colour was... grey.
But why settle for 50 shades of drab when you can choose from a spectrum of fun colours that’ll really stand out on the road? We’ve chosen some bright and beautiful cars that will look magic this autumn, and all year round.
Tangerine dreams
We’re pretty sure these cars won’t turn into an actual pumpkin at midnight, and you’ll definitely be the belle of the ball in a practical, stylish car like the Mokka X, which comes in Amber Orange to add a spritz of fun to the school run.
Or maybe you could opt for an a-peeling Polo? Bright colours really suit the city supermini segment, and this nearly new R Line model is full of sporty features like stainless steel pedals, darkened rear lights and a body-coloured rear spoiler.
And if that’s too fast and furious for you, how about painting the town orange in this juicy little Toyota Aygo?
Mellow yellow
With so many white and grey cars on the road, even muted colours can turn heads. If bright yellow is too much like driving a banana on wheels, mustard yellows and golds are a good option, and there’s a tasty selection across most segments, including this affordable Peugeot 108.
Or why not take things up a gear and choose the extremely cool new Peugeot 208, with claw lights, sparkling chrome grille and connected 3D navigation? It’s out in 2020, but you can register for updates here.
Finally, drivers who want their SUV to say something more about them than ‘my car’s bigger than yours’ may want to opt for the determinedly unconventional Volkswagen T-Roc, which blazes a trail in spicy Turmeric Yellow.
All the cars are brown…
Brown has gained lots of traction among drivers looking for a bit of rugged off-road adventure, and it frequently pops up as a colour option in guises from Cappuccino (light brown) to Byzantin Gold (brown). And a 2016 study of 1.6 million cars showed that brown cars have the least depreciation, along with green and red.
This subtle metallic SEAT Ateca is a shining example of how brown doesn’t have to be boring – plus you can enjoy your pumpkin spice latte while it parks itself.
If you’re going for an adventurous desert vibe, you could opt for the hugely popular Dacia Duster, which looks the part and is a bargain to boot.
As darker shades don’t show as much dirt, this chocolatey ŠKODA Octavia scores high for practicality, and it’s also a reliable, comfortable family car with plenty of space, automatic climate control and a host of safety features.
Ruby, ruby, ruby, ruby
If muted colours aren’t your thing, red is guaranteed to turn heads, and it looks great on everything from a sleek coupé to a big family EV.
For those who really want to cause a stir, the first choice has to be the sporty Mazda MX5, a fantasy soft top two-seater roadster. And if you must insist on grey, there’s also an option with a red roof that will make you feel like a Bond supervillain.
How about a splash of Burgundy? Enjoy a sophisticated autumn road trip in this classic 6-door MINI Clubman, with a bunch of cool features like automatic boot doors, a smart infotainment system with sat nav and keyless entry.
Or if you’re looking for something bigger, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a bright red, clean living behemoth with an impressive range of 279 miles and all the space and tech you could ever want. Find out more in our review.