Not the first to have it but good it will be added. I haven't seen any marketing for it by anyone else and I haven't heard any owner remarks with cars that have it now. Can anyone share?

http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/09/09/0929.html

Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces that it has developed a clear-coat paint with self-restoring qualities that is highly resistant to surface scratches usually caused by car wash brushes or fingernails. TMC plans to use the coat on the soon-to-be-upgraded Lexus "LS".

Unlike a conventional clear coat, TMC's newly developed coat is not easily damaged and can even restore* itself even if it is deformed. Moreover, it requires no special maintenance, prevents luster degradation caused by surface scratches and helps to prolong new-car color and gloss.

The new coat features an ingredient that encourages closer molecular bonding, resulting in a denser structure than conventionally possible. This gives the coat flexibility and elasticity, making it less prone to damage and more resistant to light and acid, and giving it the ability to self-restore after deformation.

Meanwhile, TMC plans to continue actively addressing paint-related environmental issues through such steps as introducing water-based paints on all its vehicle-production lines.

 

I want it, I want it. I just hope it doesn't cost $60,000 a gallon like the stuff in the ZR1 clearcoat.

 

@1SICK

Actually the Renault-Nissan Alliance already announced this same technology first (though I dunno if this is available outside Japan; maybe someone can enlighten me)

Anyways, I guess this thing on scratch-resisting paint and self-healing cars is the future then. I wonder if this kind of technology would have any flaws or downsides though.......

 

The kids will probably just start using bigger keys.

 

Yeah I remember they said they had it...again, haven't heard much about it since.....

I am curious does this affect detailing. Probably not.

 

The paint was mentioned in this LS forum thread, given that it is now on the 2010 Lexus LS:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...ing-paint.html

It's not marketed widely, I think, because such publicity could encourage a rash of "oh really, let me try" vandalism targeting any car that was advertised in that way.

 

does it really work?

 

Nissan developed this 4 years ago and it's offered as an option on some Infinitis I believe. When they launched Infiniti in Europe one of the selling points was this new scratch resistant paint.

One of the Nissan engineers at Sunderland was talking to me about it and it really does "heal" itself in the warm sun (be no good in England then!). He also told me that the two most expensive colours to paint cars was white and red, due to the cost of the pigment. Metallics are actually cheaper and it only costs $50 on average to paint a whole car.

 

I too am curious of this..

 

No, it shouldn't affect detailing. In fact, it may lessen the need for it.

 

Good to hear Toyota is doing something like this. I have always liked the details and this is one of them.

 

Ford has new paint on the new Taurus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYL8Zy5-Lv8

 

I heard it is better than the LS

 

Sounds like it just compresses on itself like a spring and slowly bounds back up. I sure hope its more effective than Nissan's first try at it. Stupid sticky clear meant that the car took even longer to polish the scratches out