Mercedes G500 it's the white way to go

Every car on the BMW stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year was white and the Vatican has joined trendsetters by ordering the new Mercedes-Benz G500 cabrio Popemobile in “Vatican mystic white."

The Pope joins millions of car buyers whose colour of choice is white or pearl, according to the latest global colour survey by North American paint maker DuPont.

White has displaced silver as a preferred colour for the first time in seven years, according to the DuPont survey.

However, despite its global findings, silver still ranks as one of the more popular colours in Australia at Holden, Mitsubishi and Toyota.

But 50 per cent of Ford buyers overwhelmingly choose white, in part because many are fleet sales. Silver, in its various shades, accounts for 30 per cent of colour choices.

Silver ranks top with Holden at 25 per cent, closely followed by black, then white, spokesman John Lindsay says. Buyers of Holden's sports models the SS and SV8 are more likely to choose black, followed by silver.

At Mitsubishi, silver edges out white as the most popular colour.

DuPont says that after seven years as the world's top colour choice, silver was edged out by white/pearl in one key region and two countries.

In North America, white/pearl, silver and black/black-effect are just behind white/pearl.

The return to white is being seen in many show and concept cars at international car shows, particularly the Frankfurt Motor Show.

In Japan, white overcame silver as the leader by a slim margin; 24 per cent versus 22 per cent. In Mexico, white outpolled grey by a huge margin, 32 per cent of Mexican buyers choosing white.

DuPont has tracked colour statistics for more than 55 years and this year marks the first time white or pearl has become a trend-setter.

However, the company expects new black metallic and other colour effects to gain popularity.

Red continues to gain ground with people wishing to exercise their individuality.

“Our customers are looking at niche colours and effects such as matte finishes and warm neutrals with effect,” DuPont colour marketing and technology manager Karen Surcina says.