CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Axalta has named “Sahara” as its Automotive Color of the Year for 2019. The golden bronze tone radiates warmth, richness and strength for vehicles of all sizes — particularly trucks and SUVs — and can serve as the principal color for two-tone possibilities, including black roofs, said Axalta’s Nancy Lockhart.

“At Axalta, we are seeing car designers leaning toward options for two-toning, accent roofs and stripes,” said Lockhart, the firm’s global color marketing manager. “When it comes to mass customization, Sahara is the type of color that can serve as the foundation for these premium options.”

Sahara is Axalta’s fifth color of the year following Radiant Red (2015), Brilliant Blue (2016), Gallant Gray (2017), and StarLite (2018). StarLite, a pearlescent white, introduced coatings technology into the autonomous vehicle discussions. Axalta colors under development are tested for readability by autonomous sensors, and Sahara is formulated for visibility, according to the manufacturer.

“Sahara will excite and inspire the industry as it brings together timeless style and luxurious customization for a fashionably fierce finish,” Lockhart said.