Why are sport cars red?

When it comes to a sports car, what colour would you think for it?

I guess that most people would say “red”. At the Tokyo Motor Show the other day, the “FT-86”, Toyota launched as the new generation sports car, was red. The concept Toyota had for this car was, “The design was imaged from fine & toned muscles. Its body colour has to be red. To symbolise the new start for Toyota’s sport car, we chose an unusual red, no other cars have”. Surely, it was not really red but more like pale pinkish red. Though, when we talk about popular sports cars such as Ferrari and Lamborghini’s Countach, don’t you think of a red one?

According to a specialist, the image of “sport car = red” is connected to the psychology of colours.

Among the colours, red has the most energy and power, and has an image of moving forward sleek and fast. To be compared to other colours, red has the image of more horse power and speed. Red is masculine and a powerful colour. Like Toyota this time, it would be the best colour when you want to show “fine & toned muscles”. Also red inflates fighting spirits, so it must be suitable for racing.

When I asked sport car owners, the reason for “why red?” they say “I feel superior if it is red”, “I like its uncommonness and I am after something opposite to security”, “It is the same as dress-ups”, etc. Some say “Those people are attention seekers but lack self-confidence”, so they want to be more confident with the “red” colour.

By the way, some of you might have a risky image of a red sports car. It is the adrenaline-pumping colour, so its driver speeds and causes an accident; but to tell you the truth, red cars are less likely to be hit compared to the cars with other colours.

This is because red is an expansive colour. It makes things bulge in front. It also has the longest wavelength in optical lines, so you can see it easily from a distance. That is the reason why we use red on signboards, etc.

Then, what colour car is most likely to be involved in a traffic accident? It is the ones with the contracting colour blue. It makes the car look smaller. Having said this, we know 3 customers who had accidents soon after getting their cars from us and had to write them off; and yes, they all had blue sport cars. Luckily, they did not hurt themselves but whether it was just coincidence or not, please be more careful when you drive a blue car.

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(Editor)
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