If there are brands that can pull off retro design cues such as numbers painted on grillework or two-tone paint, then they’re likely British and steeped in heritage. That’s not a large group of marques, and if we narrow it down to brands that can pull this off in a modern way then we’d challenge you to name anyone who does the latter better then Bentley.
Take for example this specification on the Flying Spur Speed, a combination of Damson (damson; metallic UNI; 6410; Bentley) over White Sand (whitesand; metallic UNI; LK1V; Bentley). A colorful combination it is not, but there’s something classic about this multi-shade and modern take on black over white… especially an incredible specification like this new Continental Flying Spur Speed that turned up on the brand’s Global Media Drive. Bentley has released photos of each car on location for the drive. This includes full build specifications. Going forward, we’re going to be color checking all of them, and first up is this particular specification.
Damson is a go-to black for Bentley, while White Sand appears to be a Silvery Beige white the duo-tone paintwork by Mulliner is accented on this car with blackware and black-painted 22-inch ten swept spoke wheels.
Inside, the cabin is a duo-tone Damson and Portland leather, dark-tinted Brushed Aluminum fascias and contrast stitching throughout.
Worth noting, the car also has several options that we’ll list here along with U.S. pricing. These include Mulliner Personal Commission – Duo Tone Paintwork ($33,325), ‘Naim for Bentley Premium Audio System ($9,615), Touring Specification ($7,890), Bentley Rotating Display ($6,955), Illuminated Flying ‘B’ in Black Gloss ($5,315), Flying Spur Blackline Specification ($5,175), Full Length Centre Console 4-Seat Configuration ($5,135), Wellness Seating ($4,670), Dark Tint Diamond Brushed Aluminum Fascia ($4,330), 22″ Ten Swept Spoke Wheels – Black Painted ($4,000).
Touring Specification includes Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Night Vision and Head-up Display.
Flying Spur Blackline Specification includes Black Gloss Matrix Style Grille and Black Surround, Black Gloss Bumper Lower Matrix Style Grille Surround, Black Gloss Front Headlamp and Rear Lamp Bezels, Black Gloss Side Window, Lower Door and Door Handle Brightware, Black Gloss Wing Vent, and Black Gloss Rear Bumper and Number Plate Surround Brightware.
Wellness Seating includes Postural and Lumbar Adjustments, Cooled and Heated Seating and Massage Functions.
BMW M continues its Individual focus on social media with one of its latest posts focusing on red hues offered by the brand. So, when it comes to scarlet, which red would you choose?
We’re unable to embed the post HERE, so we’re attaching the image here. In it, BMW simulates the M4 Coupé in Fire Red II (fuerrrotii; non-metallic uni; 375; BMW), Imola Red II (imolarot; non-metallic uni; 405; BMW), Ruby Star Neo (rubinrotiiperleffekt; metallic; S03; BMW), Madeira Red (madeirarot; metallic; R20; BMW) and Damast Red (damastrot; metallic; B03; BMW).
Firms like Alpina operate in an interesting space. While competing with a broad aftermarket, Alpina and peers like RUF, ABT Sportsline and others are more than just body kit manufacturers or “tuners” in the traditional sense. They’re more of a reimagineer of current cars, and Alpina in particular has long been a brand that will take your new BMW and make it even more tailored to suit your personality or performance needs. We like covering them, but like even more when they build a car based on a more tailored color like BMW Daytona Violet Metallic (daytonaviolett metallic; metallic UNI; 283; BMW Individual).
We don’t have a whole lot on the specification of the car beyond the model, B3 GT – i.e. based on the BMW 3 series) and the color that Alpina confirmed in their social media post that went with the photo set. Nevertheless, we wanted to share it. Check out more information in the aforementioned post that we’ve embedded above.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, BMW M is killing it in the social media game when it comes to showing off the brand’s most interesting colors and promoting their BMW Individual custom paint program. Several times a week, you can count on the team from Münich to share another unexpected paint option and this one certainly qualifies.
The car is a BMW M4 Competition Cabriolet with M xDrive, and the paint is BMW Individual Velvet Orchid II metallic(velvetorchidiimetallic; metallic; L74; BMW). This soft desaturated pink is something you definitely won’t find every day.
There’s no doubt that pinks are becoming more and more in fashion in the automotive paint color space, and it’s a testament to how normal this is. If you’d told us you’d ordered a BMW Cabriolet in a light metallic and red brake calipers we’d have probably made a hairdresser joke… yet here we are looking at this M4 Cabrio and thinking it’d make for a proper entry to a fantasy garage. Well played BMW M. Well played.
There’s just something about a green long roof. Maybe it wasChevy Chase taking the Holiday Road to Wally World, or the fact that even his Wagon Queen Family Truckster still made him hot to Christie Brinkley at the wheel of a Ferrari, it seems like a certain segment of the car enthusiast population has chased the idea of a station wagon (often green) that could be that cool in reality. That’s exactly where performance wagons like the Audi RS 6 enter the fantasy, especially specially painted examples in green.
We caught this particular RS 6 Avant over on the Only Wagons Group on Facebook. Posted by Darin Scherba, the car is in RS 6 performance specification, meaning later lifecycle production with a slight power boost and optional Y-spoke alloys that complement the car in any finish. In this case, that finish is grey matte, though the European market or special edition neodym gold would have also paired amazingly here.
Whichever wheel finish, they complete this RS 6 Avant perfect spec that, at it’s heart, uses Porsche’s Oak Green Metallic (oakgrünmetallic; metallic uni; 265 / 22L / 60K; Porsche) over standard RS 6 Cognac leather. The net look is incredibly tasteful, not the first RS 6 Avant we’ve seen in this specification, but the first RS 6 performance and captured in some great photography.
First “Colour of the Year” from British design and engineering studio CALLUM forecasts colour trends for 2025
Aqua Mist is a fresh pastel blend of green and blue, symbolising optimism, tranquillity and rejuvenation
It’s the first in what will become an annual forecast of colour trends from CALLUM, spanning the automotive, textiles, interiors and technology sectors
[source: CALLUM]
CALLUM, the British design and engineering studio, has introduced its Colour of the Year 2025, Aqua Mist. A fresh pastel blend of green and blue, it is vibrant and optimistic while promoting relaxation and tranquillity.
Aqua Mist represents renewal and innovation in a fast-changing world. The refreshing, soothing hue combines the calm of blue with the rejuvenation of green, perfect for creating peaceful, balanced spaces.
The CALLUM Colour of the Year 2025 is the first in what will become an annual forecast of colour trends from CALLUM’s growing team of colour, material and finishes experts. Inspired by recent projects, the team has redefined its approach to colour, centring on its impact and the emotional responses colour can evoke. By selecting a signature shade for the year ahead, the brand anticipates and influences design trends while demonstrating its creativity and innovation, reinforcing its position as a forward-thinking leader in design.
CALLUM’s colour, material and finishes designer, Charlotte Jones, said, “Aqua Mist offers a fresh, calming energy. Its soft and cool undertones are associated with tranquillity and openness, providing a balanced base that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. Its versatility means it is suited to a number of applications, materials and surface textures, while layering with CALLUM’s specially-selected balancing colours creates a fun, energetic vibe.
“Recent projects and collaborations have given us valuable insights into the needs, preferences and experiences of a variety of customers, particularly those who rely on well-considered inclusive design to enhance accessibility and comfort. We want the CALLUM Colour of the Year to spark conversations about how colour resonates with the emotional needs of customers and can help shape spaces and products that elicit deeper emotional responses.”
The CALLUM team has identified a concise complementary palette. Teaming Aqua Mist with balancing colours Neon Riot and Midnight Tide, it has created a playful, dynamic trio that offers an energetic yet approachable look, ideal for designs that need both vibrancy and sophistication – perfect for playful brands.
Neon Riot is an attention-grabbing hot pink. It brings energy, fun and vibrancy to the palette by adding a pop of brightness, evoking feelings of excitement and creativity. Neon Riot is bold and youthful, which gives any design a sense of dynamism and fun.
Midnight Tide is a rich, deep blue. It grounds the other two colours with its darker, more intense shade, making the overall palette feel balanced and mature.
Commenting on the CALLUM Colour of the Year, design director Ian Callum said, “Every design team in the world looks at future aesthetics to stay relevant and appeal to ever-evolving consumer tastes.Plus, it’s creative and a lot of fun. The CALLUM Colour of the Year 2025 is the first time we’ve made any of our forecasting work public.”
CALLUM Aqua Mist in automotive The combination of Aqua Mist, Neon Riot and Midnight Tide in automotive projects can create a bold, futuristic and attention-grabbing aesthetic, especially for brands or models aimed at trend-conscious audiences.
CALLUM Aqua Mist in textiles Aqua Mist can be featured in matte or satin finishes, and is especially on softer materials such as rubberised surfaces, textiles or smooth plastics. Its calm, cool vibe can be elevated using tactile textures like pebble-grain leather or mesh fabrics, providing a soft, inviting touch while maintaining a fresh and modern look.
CALLUM Aqua Mist in interior design This soothing hue combines the calm of blue with the rejuvenation of green, promoting relaxation and mental clarity, making it perfect for peaceful, balanced spaces.
CALLUM Aqua Mist in technology Aqua Mist represents innovation and forward-thinking in a rapidly-changing world, ideal for cutting-edge technology.
To mark its Colour of the Year, CALLUM will subtly incorporate Aqua Mist into its branding throughout 2025. CALLUM also looks forward to discussions with partners and brands about potential collaborations interpreting Aqua Mist in creative, impactful ways.
About CALLUM CALLUM is a design and engineering business that creates and crafts its own bespoke and limited-edition products, and provides consultancy and services to partners and third parties. Combining progressive design with engineering that pushes boundaries, CALLUM’s products and services span automotive, lifestyle, and travel.
Nimble and agile, CALLUM operates from its 20,000ft2 facility in Warwick, UK, that houses the latest technology to deliver: design; 3D modelling, printing and scanning; colour, materials and finishes development; whole vehicle engineering; vehicle development and homologation testing; prototyping; machining, and trim services.
CALLUM takes a collaborative approach: bringing together a team of 20+ talented individuals with experience across art, audio, automotive, fashion and motorsport, as well as embracing opportunities to collaborate with other businesses. Striving to build a legacy through innovative design and engineering, CALLUM takes on projects that intrigue and excite, creating stories that stir the imagination.
Established in July 2019, CALLUM’s founding members include British designer Ian Callum CBE, admired for his prolific automotive work that includes the Aston Martin Vanquish. Through its NextGeneration initiative, CALLUM strives to support and nurture young minds and talent, fostering an environment that encourages peer-to-peer learning to ensure CALLUM remains relevant, progressive, and true to its roots.
At least in paint naming convention, the term “Oak Green” can be a bit confusing because multiple manufacturers have coined the term. Porsche has an Oak Green Metallic and its more recent updating called Oak Green Neo. It’s a great color that other manufacturers such as Audi exclusive will be happy to paint for you. So, that Audi has its own Oak Green, specifically Oak Green Pearl (oakgrünperleffekt; metallic uni; Q82; Audi), can make it more confusing.
We’re doing our best to be specific and keep track of it all. So, when we caught this post of an SQ7 by Audi South Africa on Facebook, we inquired. The SQ7 in this photo almost looked like the much-more-common District Green currently offered on many Audi models as a standard color. However, it was a bit dark, making it quite close to Audi exclusive Oak Green Pearl specimens we’ve seen in person, so we reached out to Audi South Africa and they were able to confirm that it is Oak Green Pearl.
Check out more photos below, and click the embedded Facebook post above in order to give Audi South Africa a follow.
One of our favorite manufacturer social media accounts is BMW M on Facebook. Not only have they created a BMW Individual configurator and post historical context on some of their most popular colors on their own corporate websites, they use this account to celebrate that work and highlight exquisite specifications of their cars using those colors.
This week the color is Brass Metallic (messing; metallic UNI; 621; BMW). Yes, brown hues tend to be a bit inside baseball, subtler than intense yellows or blues and less obvious. That may why many buyers of tailored automobiles prefer them.
Over the last few years, BMW has also been great at embracing these earth tones that are nods to interesting metals, with copper accents on some BMW i models, or colors like Brass Metallic. And, there’s no doubt this M8 in Brass Metallic looks great with other brown elements like its cognac style leather.
The photos you see here are from just a casual daily social media post made by Audi Thailand, but they represent such a great spec that we simply had to share. The car in question is a new Audi RS 7 performance painted Audi exclusive Goodwood Green (goodwoodgrün; pearl effect UNI; Z6X; Audi).
Though not currently offered as a standard color on the RS 7 or most of the Audi range, at least in North America, Goodwood as a long appreciated Audi color makes it a popular choice in the world of Audi exclusive tailored builds.
In a way, it’s probably Audi’s closest take on traditional British Racing Green, so is it any wonder that it looks great with gold wheels, which came back into the fore in recent years at brands such as Porsche. Over at Audi, they’ve got a gold finish of their own for wheels “Neodym Gold Matt” that’s a satin muted take which seems to harken early ur quattro era gold wheels without being gaudy.
And as cool as Neodym wheels are at Audi, Audi of America hasn’t really made much use of them. The finish was offered briefly on RS 5 models, and its use on the C8 RS 6 and RS 7 was only on a limited production special edition. If you want them, you likely need to source them from Europe in some creative fashion as they are still offered as a stand alone specification like we see here on this RS 7 performance.
So back to this car posted by Audi Thailand. Borderline British Racing Green with gold wheels is an iconic and always stylish look, so there was no question this combination would look stunning on a car like the RS 7 performance. Thanks to Audi Thailand for sharing it. We did try to embed the post here, but it appears permissions are prohibiting that. If you’d like to check it out and like it yourself, you can find it HERE.
The special limited edition Audi RS 6 Avant GT is beginning to land in certain markets, which means we’re also getting our first good look at real world photos. In this case, it’s the UK market specification built in Arkona White with Heritage stripes and graphics provided in this set of PR photos from Audi UK.
One of the things we like to analyze about galleries such as this one is the detail work that maybe wasn’t revealed in the initial run of launch photos. For instance, we can see inner layers of carbon fiber within the vents aft the front wheels on the carbon front fenders, or the exposed carbon fiber on the all-carbon hood.
Though right hand drive, this is the same specification we’re expecting in the USA save the optional shell sport seats that tragically haven’t been federalized.
We’ve gone ahead and published the whole set. Enjoy.
