In Europe, black cars are all the rage. According to Dupont’s 2010 Automotive Color Popularity report, the most popular car color in Europe is black, followed by grey. Usually a very dark grey. In Japan, the most popular car color is white. Followed by silver. Usually a bright silver. However, black is coming on strong in Japan. It already is in third place. Always on the lookout for the latest craze, the Japanese car industry is eager to get into black.
Mazda releases its roadster (known stateside as the Mazda MX-5 as a BLACK TUNED special edition for the Japanese market. According to what Mazda sent me, “the special edition BLACK TUNED Roadster is based on the premium ‘RS RHT’ and ‘VS RHT’ model grades that feature Mazda’s groundbreaking power retractable hard top (RHT). The BLACK TUNED theme is reflected in stylish special features including a Brilliant Black roof and door mirrors, and Gun Metallic 17-inch alloy wheels. Interior quality is also enhanced, with the seats and steering wheel covered in black leather with sand-colored stitching.”
Ok, ok, we get it. But what about the outside?
“Three external body colors are available, including two exclusive colors – Spirited Green Metallic and Velocity Red Mica – and the popular Crystal White Pearl Mica.”
Darn. The “Mazda BLACK TUNED Roadster” comes in all kinds of colors (including a Baruth favorite). As long as it isn’t black.
The car lists in Japan for 3,050,000 yen ($39,759, with tax). White costs $410 more.
Seriously, the black alloy wheels and mirrors look good on that roadster.
Do want.
Let me see if I’m understanding this…
You can’t get the Mazda BLACK TUNED Roadster in BLACK?!??!?!!?
BLACK is in the flippin’ NAME!!!!!
(I’m so confused…)
NO ‘Black’ is the accent colours, like WHEELS,ROOF,Mirrors.
The name with BLACK in it is just a marketing name.
“Three external body colors are available, including two exclusive colors – Spirited Green Metallic and Velocity Red Mica – and the popular Crystal White Pearl Mica.”
Should I use “/sarcasm” next time…
I still don’t understand why you couldn’t get it in black; that would look great.
Guess I’m right there with Henry Ford on that one (what a strange sensation THAT is…)
White, the color of the generic small, slow, stupid sedan, costs extra? Definitely not burakku.
White has a special meaning in Asia. Japanese makers charge a premium for colors like Pearlescent or Metallic White and “Championship White” (Honda). You’d be amazed at how many people actually stump up the extra money for a mere factory paint option.
White is the lightest of the colours. Lighter means faster.
Boy, that green is starting to annoy me. Did Mazda find a bunch of unsold green car paint on Ebay?
No stupd..It is the same green used on the Mazda 2 it is called Spirited Green Metallic (Colour Code 36A).
Really nasty, that Mazda green. Why can’t they offer some decent army-green, if they have found some unsold green car paint? Or other camouflage paint?