Porsche is adding a new colour to its Paint to Sample range, named after long-term fan Michael Essmann.
The paint colour, Essmanngreen, will be available to purchase on brand new 911, 718 and Taycan models from March 2023.
Porsche describes the colour as a “brilliantly rich green”.
It was first applied in 1992 on Mr Essmann’s 911 Carrera RS 3.6 after he decided to replicate the paint colour that was used for his family-run business, Elektro Essmann.
He has been using Porsche’s Paint to Sample Plus option on his range of 911s, and his sons have also applied accents in this colour to his Porsche Sports Cup racing cars.
Porsche currently offer a range of standard colour options for its entire line up, however if customers aren’t satisfied they can opt for a premium colour from within the 170-strong Paint to Sample (formerly known as Custom Color) range or go all out and create their own colour via the ‘Paint to Sample Plus’ process.
The Paint to Sample range includes 115 additional colour options for 911 and 718 models, 108 colour options for the Taycan, 59 for the Panamera and Macan and an additional 52 colour options for the Cayenne.
For customers that want to go the extra mile for their vehicle, Paint to Sample Plus allows them to provide a colour swatch to Porsche AG for approval. The colour will undergo testing and feasibility before being approved for application.
Paint to Sample colours cost between $16,000 and $20,000 in Australia, while the Paint to Sample Plus is more expensive still – customers who opt for Paint to Sample Plus can expect to pay upwards of $30,000 depending on the market and model.
The process to create a new colour is done at Porsche’s main plant in Zuffenhausen where paint specialists blend several dozen ingredients down to the last milligram to achieve the desired shade.
The recipe for Essmanngreen includes over 100 ingredients.
Once mixed, each batch is then divided into two separate paint pots for use on the body as well as add-on parts. There are different application methods and drying temperatures depending on the part being finished.
It can take up to 11 months in certain cases for the Paint to Sample Plus process to be completed.
