White has become the fastest growing new car colour, whilst once-popular silver cars are fading out of fashion, thanks to the “Apple Effect”.



Black may be the most chosen colour for cars leaving the showroom, but the colour white, once associated with Essex girls and a favourite in the 1980s, is enjoying a rebirth in popularity. Design experts have attributed this trend to computer giant Apple, whose sleek, white iPods and iPads have made the colour trendy again.


White paint on cars has surged in popularity by more than 800% in the past six years, a study by Halfords, which sells 48,000 variations of touch up and spray paints, found. The growing popularity of white cars is being fuelled by new pigment paints and quality finishes which mean white cars retain a forecourt garage look and surprisingly don’t show the dust and scratches as readily as darker colours. They also have lower fuel bills, as the colour reflects the sun’s heat, lessening the need to switch on the air conditioning and their environmental impact.



Car manufacturers believe white makes models look more streamlined and attractive to buyers. They are increasingly used in advertising campaigns and at this year’s major motor shows in Detroit, Geneva and Barcelona, there were more white cars on display than any other colour cars.



White has been making a comeback on the catwalk too. Spring and summer fashion shows were dominated by white and the colour is a favourite of the Katherine Duchess of Cambridge who has been seen in white at both the Derby and Ascot and the Trooping of the Colour where Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall was also in white.



Top London interior designer Louisa Keating said: “White and lace are definitely the buzz words this year. Interior design mirrors the catwalks and the trend has extended to household objects. People want brightness and you can’t get brighter than white.”