The Colour Trail: a world of colourAudi history in colours and paint finishes

When we first see a car we may not even know what kind of an engine it has or how much power and torque it develops. We may not even be able to see inside the car. What we immediately notice is its shape and colour. In the wrong colour, even the most beautiful shapes will not be fully appreciated by the observer.

Paint finish: more than just colour
A luxury saloon in turquoise? A sports car in pink? More than any other factor the paint finish determines how we respond to the car. But it also protects the body and other important parts of the car against adverse environmental effects. Today’s coatings have a highly complex structure and are available in countless colours and shades. Working with them is a science in itself.

From Horch to Lamborghini Diablo
The special exhibition “The Colour Trail” presents twelve cars in colours typical of their day. From the Horch to the Lamborghini Diablo – from dignified black to flamboyant violet. Each car represents a particular colour trend in the market at the time. This is a good basis for exploring the history of paint finishes.

The history of paint finishes
A lot of astonishing facts come to light in the process. For example, would you have known that the Audi colour range amounts to a total of over 1,000 variations since 1949? Or that the mass production of cars in America only became possible with the vast gunpowder reserves from the First World War? The special exhibition “The Colour Trail” explains why the spray gun had long been introduced in the USA while in Germany drying times were still dictated by the paint brush.