Color has a powerful impact on our emotions and perceptions. In the world of automotive design, color plays a vital role in conveying a vehicle’s identity and appeal. For Toyota’s Calty Design Research team, the development of a signature color for the TRD Pro series is a testament to their artistic vision and commitment to innovation. Let’s take a closer look at the captivating story behind the TRD Pro color for the 2024 model year – Terra.
The Genesis of Calty Design Research
In 1973, Shoichiro Toyoda established Calty Design Research, the first major automotive design studio by a Japanese automaker in North America. This demonstrated Toyota’s recognition of the importance of design in shaping the future of mobility. With locations in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Calty has been at the forefront of Toyota’s design revolution, leaving its mark on numerous models produced by Toyota.
Color selection for the TRD Pro series involves a team effort that includes collaboration with various departments such as planning, marketing, engineering, and manufacturing. Sellene Lee, CMF senior lead designer at Calty’s Newport Beach location, describes it as a fun challenge to find a color that aligns with everyone’s vision.
The Art of Selecting the Annual TRD Pro Color
Each year, Calty’s team takes on the exciting challenge of developing a new TRD Pro color. This exclusive color is available only on select TRD Pro series vehicles and embodies their unique blend of power, toughness, and style. The selection process involves ensuring that the chosen color looks good on all four models (Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, and Tacoma). It’s a complex process that involves analyzing market trends, understanding consumer insights, and letting creativity flow. Past TRD Pro colors include Quicksand in 2016, Voodoo Blue in 2019, and Lime Rush in 2022.
Once a color is chosen, the real challenge begins – perfecting the science behind the paint. Factors like temperature, humidity, and equipment can affect the color outcome, so it’s essential to ensure that the final color matches the initial intention. Sometimes, it takes several attempts to fine-tune the color to achieve the desired result.
The most recent TRD Pro series color, Solar Octane, is a vibrant orange inspired by a bright sunbeam. The color incorporates a dash of pearl for a captivating effect in sunlight, reflecting Toyota’s commitment to design excellence.
The TRD Pro Color Odyssey Continues
The future of the TRD Pro color palette is as exciting as its past. Calty and Toyota are always listening to customers and using their insights to fuel creative inspiration. The TRD Pro series colors symbolize the vehicles’ exceptional off-road capabilities, durability, and spirit of adventure. Each model year, a new color tells a unique story, carrying forward Calty’s legacy of exceptional design. Benjamin Jimenez, general manager of Calty in Ann Arbor, teases that customers can expect the unexpected as they look forward to the colors of the future.