Lexus Even Finds a Way to Make Paint Sexy
I always thought the phrase “like watching paint dry” was intended to connote something boring, but then I learned about Lexus’s new hi-tech paint process.
Since it was first implemented on the RC F, the multi-layered paint process is just another reason Lexus cars shine brighter than the rest. And that’s not hyperbole, the paint actually responds to sunlight. And it’s also meant to establish a perfect balance to show off depth as well.
The idea initially was used on concept vehicles to help them pop at auto shows. But Lexus obviously figured out that customers might also like their own cars to pop. So they scrapped traditional paintwork in lieu of this “meticulous five-coat, four-bake” process, as outlined in a recent Lexus blog post.
“The first is identified as a ‘middle’ or intermediate priming layer, which provides a solid foundation for the following coats. Next to be applied is the metallic blue base coat, followed by a clear sealing coat. A translucent, blue-tinted coat provides the fourth layer, with a second clear layer – more specifically, a self-healing anti-scratch coat – applied as the finishing surface.”
After each layer, the car goes through a baking oven, and is then hand sanded by a team supervised by Takumi master craftsmen. And all that paint is applied atop the “electrodeposited coat” that protects the body’s base metal.
As you might expect, this multi-tiered process required changes in the entire production line for each vehicle that dons the vibrant paint. It’s currently available on select RC, IS, and GS models.
Kind of makes you want to watch the paint dry, eh?
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Via [Lexus]
