<<
Back to Introduction
The
Psychology of Car Colours
|
The colours of cars as reflectors of
personality
An
RAC research on the colours of cars as reflectors of the
personalities of their owners was reported on ITV in September
1997 by a psychologist, Ms Dawson (D) and, a year earlier,
in the popular press by Ray Massey (RM) of the Daily Mail
and Lance James (LJ) of the Sunday Mirror.
The
main colours deliberately chosen for cars tend to reflect
the following personality traits:
(Colours in illustrations are non-specific
- i.e. the yellow below is not the only yellow to which
the traits apply)
|
| Yellow |
| |
•
Quick-thinking, fast reactions
• Good in emergencies (RM)
• Friendly (RM)
• (Another factor: impulsiveness) |
| Red |
| |
•
Risk-taking (LJ)
• Likes a challenge (RM)
• Above average aggressive (LJ)
• Susceptible to road-rage (D)
• (Another factor: 10% of males cannot see red) |
| Silver |
| |
•
Status conscious (LJ)
• Wanting to appear stylish and elegant (LJ)
• Prestigious attention-seeking (RM)
• Pincess Diana had a silver BMW 5-series (RM) |
| White |
|
| |
•
Refined (LJ); Reputable (RM)
• Distant and aloof (D)
• Strong sense of propriety (RM) |
| Blue |
| |
•
Reserved, thoughtful and prudent (D)
• Diligent (LJ)
• Concerned about what others think of them (RM) |
| Green |
| |
•
Methodical approach (RM)
• Practical and methodical (LJ)
• Vigorous integrity (D) |
| Orange |
| |
•
Have powerful needs for self-fulfilment (LJ)
• Popular, fun-loving and good-natured (RM)
• Cordial with a strong sense of their capabilities
(LJ) |
| Purple |
| |
•
Creative, artistic, temperamental, spiritual (D) |
| Pink |
| |
•
Charming, gentle and sensitive (JL and RM)
• The pink car is associated with Love (JL)
• Often driven by maternal and paternal types (LT and
RM) who seek romance away from the hurley-burly (LT) |
| Grey |
| |
•
Cautious
dutiful people who strongly believe
others should follow their example in life. (RM) |
| Brown |
| |
•
Practical down-to-earth, with plenty of stamina and patience
(RM) |
| Black |
| |
•
Status conscious with a sense of the irrevocable (D)
• Success-oriented and ambitious, come from elegant
and well-appointed homes.
• Have many acquaintances but few friends. (LJ and RM) |
References
CZELNY,
K.T.J. (1971) 'Colour in the Motor Industry' Colour Group (GB)
Lecture 02.04.'71
DAWSON,
Ms, a psychologist talking on ITV about an RAC Colour Research
, Sept 1997
JAMES,
L. (1996) 'Your car's paintwork reveals your true colours' Sunday
Mirror 28.07.1996
MASSEY,
R. (1996) 'What your car's colours say about you'. Daily Mail
07.09.1996
| Note:
Permission pending from Cadillac to use the images above.
At this time (September 2004) Of those illustrated, only the
black and grey are colours officially available in the Cadillac
XLR range and only the white, silver, black and grey are colours
officially available in the Cadillac CTS range. |
©
Micro Academy 2004.
Cadillac, CTS and XLR are Trademarks
of the General Motors Corporation.
Click
here to visit Cadillac online.
<<
Back to Introduction
Areas
of Knowledge
Options