For a carmaker considered a leader in electric vehicles, Tesla has long been criticized for offering such a limited and uninspiring range of paint colors. While offering more variety in the past, the choice of shades was gradually reduced to simplify operations at the company’s Fremont, California facility, until only a couple of colors remained, even on the Premium Model S and Model X vehicles from Thelsa.
Buyers in Europe and the Middle East have been a little luckier because Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin has what Elon Musk humbly called “the most advanced paint shop in the world.” able to offer two additional colors: Quicksilver and Midnight Cherry Red. We say “a bit luckier” because the two new Berlin colors are only available on Model Y with Performance or Long Range specification.
Giga Berlin will have the most advanced paint shop in the world, with more layers of dazzling colors that subtly change with curvature
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 14, 2020
In the United States, the only completely free color on Model S or Model X is Pearl White Multi-Coat. Other optional color options include Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, and Deep Blue Metallic, all of which cost an additional $1,500 over the base Pearl White Multi-Coat.
But now, American buyers have a new option, Ultra Red, which commands a $3,000 premium over the standard Pearl White Multi-Coat. The previous red color, Red Multi-Coat, was a $2,500 option, so the new Ultra Red is only a net $500 increase for buyers who want a red Tesla.
Ultra Red complements the complexity of Model S and Model X
The new Ultra Red seems to slot in between the other two shades of red that Tesla offers. It’s darker than Red Multi-Coat (below) but lighter than Midnight Cherry Red. Red Multi-Coat will remain a $2,000 option on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
It seems that offering Ultra Red only on Tesla’s flagship models is a move to add an air of exclusivity to these cars. Tints and the ability to change appearance under different lighting conditions are better suited to the complex design of Model S and Model X than Red Multi-Coat. According to YouTuber Met God in Wilderness, the new Ultra Red cars are already being produced and can be seen in the parking lot of the Fremont factory.
In addition to rolling out a fresh new color, Tesla has also been in the news this week for cutting the price of the Model S and Model X by a 4% to 9% margin, depending on the model and trim level. Perhaps buyers can use the savings to splurge on a flashy new Ultra Red paint job.
