Black, white, and gray remain some of the most common vehicle colors in the United States, but Axalta Coating Systems expects a richer shade to gain attention in 2027. The company has named Redefined, a deep ruby red with a subtle shimmer, its 2027 Automotive Color of the Year.

Axalta introduced the finish earlier this month at Automechanika Frankfurt in Germany. The company developed the coating to replicate the visual depth and changing reflections of a gemstone, giving the color a more layered appearance than a conventional ruby-red paint.

How Redefined creates its shimmer

Red has been part of automotive design for generations, but Axalta says Redefined updates the familiar color through its coating technology. Instead of relying only on metallic flakes, the finish uses multiple layers that interact with light.

That construction gives the paint its reflective quality and allows its appearance to shift subtly as lighting and viewing angles change. Axalta describes the result as a deeper, more luminous finish intended to look expressive without losing its refined character.

“Redefined represents where we see automotive color going, expressive and individual, but still refined and timeless,” Matthew Boland, Axalta’s vice president of global refinish technology, said. He added that the ruby tone’s luminosity and depth make the color appear to come alive on a vehicle.

A return to Axalta’s red family

Redefined also connects with the history of Axalta’s color program. The company began its Global Automotive Color of the Year series 13 years ago with Radiant Red. Returning to the red family for 2027, Axalta says, reflects advances in pigments and effect coatings since that first selection.

According to Axalta, current paint technology can create a level of visual depth that was not possible when Radiant Red launched. The company presents Redefined as an example of how coating development has expanded the range of finishes available to automakers.

Will automakers use Redefined?

Axalta has not identified specific production vehicles that will offer Redefined. The shade arrives as automakers continue experimenting with more distinctive exterior finishes, including Infiniti’s use of real gold flecks in the paint for the 2027 QX65.

Recent Axalta selections have covered a broad range of colors. Solar Boost was the 2026 choice, following Evergreen Sprint for 2025, Starry Night for 2024, Techno Blue for 2023, Royal Magenta for 2022, and Electrolight for 2021.

The 2027 selection does not guarantee that Redefined will appear on showroom vehicles. It does, however, signal the type of finish Axalta believes could appeal to buyers seeking more individuality while retaining an upscale appearance.