Thanks for this, I'm surprised Ford doesn't just clearly call out which paint is which. Or better yet do a 4 car US Tour so we can see all of the colors and then still change our minds 10 times anyway lol. Seeing the Shadow Black in person on other Ford cars the mica definitely makes sense. It's not quite metallic but not quite flat
Paint Options -What Paint is Metallic? (UK vs USA Order Guide Discrepancies)
I've spotted some issues with how different Focus RS markets label/describe the exterior paint colors:
See attached two screen shots. The USA Focus RS order guide lists four colors (Frozen White, Shadow Black, Stealth Gray, and Nitrous Blue) and notes that Shadow Black is the only non-metallic color. The UK guide (see attached photo) doesn't agree (note: the UK market gets a 5th color, Magnetic).
Shadow Black:
-The UK guide calls this color "mica". That may explain why it looks metallic in photos but isn't considered metallic in the USA order guide. Mica paint is similar to metallic but not considered metallic.
Stealth Gray:
-The UK guide says this color is "solid". The USA guide doesn't label it "non-metallic". Looking at the color in photos, it does NOT look very metallic to me but it might be ever so slightly "metallic" (similar to Frozen White, see next line).
Frozen White:
-The UK guide says it's a "solid" color but the USA guide doesn't label it "non-metallic". Frozen White is also available in the USA on the Ford Transit Connect and it's labeled as "Frozen White Metallic" on the window sticker (but just "Frozen White" in the order guide) and looks to be ever so slightly metallic in person. It's a touch brighter and "frosty" compared to Ford's conventional Oxford White (Mustang, F-150, Focus ST, etc).
Nitrous Blue:
-Both guides agree that this paint is "special" or "quad coat".
Any thoughts?
See attached two screen shots. The USA Focus RS order guide lists four colors (Frozen White, Shadow Black, Stealth Gray, and Nitrous Blue) and notes that Shadow Black is the only non-metallic color. The UK guide (see attached photo) doesn't agree (note: the UK market gets a 5th color, Magnetic).
Shadow Black:
-The UK guide calls this color "mica". That may explain why it looks metallic in photos but isn't considered metallic in the USA order guide. Mica paint is similar to metallic but not considered metallic.
Stealth Gray:
-The UK guide says this color is "solid". The USA guide doesn't label it "non-metallic". Looking at the color in photos, it does NOT look very metallic to me but it might be ever so slightly "metallic" (similar to Frozen White, see next line).
Frozen White:
-The UK guide says it's a "solid" color but the USA guide doesn't label it "non-metallic". Frozen White is also available in the USA on the Ford Transit Connect and it's labeled as "Frozen White Metallic" on the window sticker (but just "Frozen White" in the order guide) and looks to be ever so slightly metallic in person. It's a touch brighter and "frosty" compared to Ford's conventional Oxford White (Mustang, F-150, Focus ST, etc).
Nitrous Blue:
-Both guides agree that this paint is "special" or "quad coat".
Any thoughts?
Attachments
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
Note, Frozen White on both the Transit Connect and the Focus RS have the same paint code: Z2. When I was at the Ford dealer checking out the difference between Oxford White and Frozen White, the latter looks like it's ever so slightly metallic (when inspected up close). As noted, it's listed as "Frozen White Metallic" on the window sticker of a USA Transit Connect (see attached).
![Text Font Banner Brand Logo]()
Ordered mine in the Stealth Gray... White seemed too boring, Black, been there done that, pain to keep clean, Nitrous Blue just looks too woosey... Would have liked to get the Liquid Blue on the show car, but not available... Seems like someone went out of their way to limit the color pallet for some reason?
I learned at the gt350 track tour that liquid blue is 11 coats of paint, the first being red which you can see in certain light. This was way to costly for a production color.Ordered mine in the Stealth Gray... White seemed too boring, Black, been there done that, pain to keep clean, Nitrous Blue just looks too woosey... Would have liked to get the Liquid Blue on the show car, but not available... Seems like someone went out of their way to limit the color pallet for some reason?
It's completely unethical. They're making the car look better than any RS you'll ever be able to buy. They didn't want anyone to notice that the ACTUAL colors available are crappy. I've already started to modify mine, to get past the pukey color selections. ONE actual color that has color in it? And I don't like blue at all. Where are the warm colors? I'm adding orange racing stripes next. Life is too short to put up with ultra-conservative timidity.
I mean, think about it...the wheels are a car's jewelry. Ford has given the wheels a melt-into-the-tires look, putting four black blobs at the corners.
Unethical? Lol ok... The color options were stated very clearly prior to order banks opening. If you didn't like them you didn't have to order. If they would have offered liquid blue it would have drastically slowed down the line every time they had to produce one. Look to dodge and the viper with their special color options and how expensive they were due to them slowing down the line.
I guarantee your orange wheels and stripes will be in the minority of people's tastes, but it's your car so people shouldn't criticize you for it. You say Ford is unethical because they decided it didn't make financial and operation sense to offer an exclusive color yet you infer that people who choose a conservative color are timid? Sorry buddy a purple prowler just doesn't float my boat.
Doesn't float mine, as well. Here's mine:Unethical? Lol ok... The color options were stated very clearly prior to order banks opening. If you didn't like them you didn't have to order. If they would have offered liquid blue it would have drastically slowed down the line every time they had to produce one. Look to dodge and the viper with their special color options and how expensive they were due to them slowing down the line.
I guarantee your orange wheels and stripes will be in the minority of people's tastes, but it's your car so people shouldn't criticize you for it. You say Ford is unethical because they decided it didn't make financial and operation sense to offer an exclusive color yet you infer that people who choose a conservative color are timid? Sorry buddy a purple prowler just doesn't float my boat.
![]()
I like orange. Tangerine Scream would've been great. But you're missing the point...offering something for sale in an un-buyable color, because it looks better, is inherently unethical. What do they call that? Hmmm...oh, yeah..."bait & switch".
1 - 20 of 41 Posts
