Porsche Expands Paint Palette

Painting a Porsche 911 Cabriolet Mexico Blue in the Zuffenhausen paint shop. Photo Credit: Porsche

“Individualization is at the core of Porsche. Customers have been making special requests to personalize their cars since our earliest model, the 356,” said Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America.

The 356 was launched in 1948, as was Porsche the company, so clearly the demand for specialization has been going on for quite some time and is arguably part of the company’s DNA — literally, not just figuratively.

Expanding Capability

Thanks to the implementation of a color mixing capability that it has installed at its Zuffenhausen plant, where the 911, 718 and Taycan models are produced, Porsche is expanding its “Paint to Sample” program, which not only includes the ability to select from 160 pre-approved colors, but, through a deluxe option known as “Paint to Sample Plus,” provide customers with the possibility of having a color that they happen to like painted on their Porsche.

Although painting cars in select colors is not new at Porsche, what the new capability means is that it can paint more cars in a day. For example, it had been capable of painting five 911s per day with special colors; it is now able to do 20.

Different Capacities

According to Porsche the Paint to Sample option doesn’t increase overall production time in the plant.

Not all Porsche plants have the same capability as the main Zuffenhausen plant for painting. For example, the Panamera is built in the Porsche Leipzig factory and it has approximately 50 Paint to Sample color options.

The Taycan, which is assembled within the Zuffenhausen complex in its own factory, has 65 color choices.

The Upcharge

Paint to Sample is not without cost to the consumer:

For example, for most 911 and 718 models the option costs $11,430 and for the more specialized vehicles, such as the 718 GT and 911 Turbo, there is a $12,830 addition to the sticker.

And then there is Paint to Sample Plus.

In this case, the customer brings a color sample to a dealer, who then forwards it to Porsche AG.

That bespoke color undergoes comprehensive quality and feasibility testing — testing that can last 11 months.

If the color fails the test, Porsche AG absorbs the cost of the testing.

If the color passes, then the customer will pay $22,860 for most models and $25,660 for the 911 Turbo, 911 GT, and 718 GT models.