Peugeot has added two textured colors to its facelifted 208 lineup, a world premiere on a production vehicle.
The two new colors, Ice Grey and Ice Silver, have both a matt and satin appearance and react strongly to the variations of the light, unlike matt colors which generally smooth out curves and disguise shapes. Peugeot also says the textured colors are more hard-wearing and easier to care for than conventional matt paint, offering good resistance to micro-scratching. They also accept frequent washing with a high pressure jet wash or roller (but no wax cycle).
Because Peugeot applies these colors in production at the plant, it managed to make them affordable. They are priced the same as pearlescent paint – below €800 in Europe. The additional cost compared to metallic paint is just €180 to €200. Up until now, textured colors were normally only available on small special edition runs or as a very expensive premium hand-applied option, costing up to €6,000.
Putting the application of these colors in production at the Poissy plant in France has required nearly 4 years of development work. While the initial coats (anti-corrosion, primer and colour base coats) remain the same as for a conventional metallic paint, the innovation is in the composition and application of the lacquer.
The latter contains texturing agents, but also fine particles of silica and micro-beads of polyamide. The particles of silica in the resin give the paint its matt appearance, toughness and granular properties, while polyamide micro-beads give the paint its special texture.
The refreshed Peugeot 208 goes on sale in Europe in June 2015.
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