Porsche’s personalization programs are already among the most extensive in the automotive world, yet the German marque appears far from satisfied. Rather than stopping at bespoke paint finishes, Porsche is now exploring a future where traditional paint itself could become obsolete.
A newly uncovered patent suggests the company is investigating color-shifting bodywork that can dynamically change appearance, potentially taking vehicle customization to an entirely new level.
At present, Porsche customers looking for individuality can turn to the brand’s Sonderwunsch division, which offers two highly exclusive routes for exterior color personalization. Paint to Sample (PTS) gives buyers access to more than 220 carefully curated shades drawn from Porsche’s historical palette and special collections.
For those who want something even more personal, Paint to Sample Plus (PTS+) allows customers to submit their own reference item, anything from a piece of clothing to a cosmetic product, with prices typically exceeding $30,000. Even by ultra-luxury standards, this is personalization taken seriously.
Still, Porsche seems to believe that choosing a single, perfect color may no longer be enough. According to a recently published patent, the automaker is investigating a system that would allow a car’s exterior color to change automatically, adapting to its surroundings or even to the driver’s outfit.
Rather than committing to one shade, the vehicle itself would decide, or be instructed, what color to wear at any given moment. The patent was filed with the German office of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on September 25, 2024, and published on December 4, 2025.
The accompanying illustrations depict what appears to be a Porsche 911 equipped with a sophisticated color-changing system. Central to the concept is a camera-based setup capable of analyzing visual input, such as the clothing worn by the driver.
While the patent shows the recording device inside the vehicle, the technology could theoretically work with external cameras or even a smartphone.
At the core of the system is what Porsche calls an “actively controllable, optically changeable coating.” This advanced surface treatment would be applied to parts of the vehicle’s body and could alter its appearance in real time.
The coating relies on electrically stimulated pigment particles arranged in separate red, green, and blue layers. By activating these layers in varying combinations, the system could reproduce a wide range of colors, effectively turning the car’s exterior into a responsive display capable of matching almost any visual reference.
As with many patent filings, there is no confirmation that this technology will ever reach production, nor is there a timeline if it does. However, should Porsche decide to commercialize such a system, it could fundamentally change how owners think about automotive identity, moving beyond static paint toward something far more fluid and expressive.
Naturally, several practical challenges would need to be addressed before such technology could be offered to customers.
Questions around durability, long-term maintenance, repair complexity, and cost remain unanswered, as does whether the system would cover the entire body or only select panels. These considerations will likely determine whether the idea remains experimental or evolves into a real-world option.
Porsche is not alone in exploring this futuristic territory. BMW has already showcased its own color-changing technology using E Ink, with plans to introduce it on production vehicles by 2027.
The German rival demonstrated the concept through an i5 art car, using electricity to animate the exterior surface and create dynamic, customizable visuals. Together, these developments suggest that the era of fixed automotive paint may be closer to its end than many enthusiasts ever imagined.
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