Q:
We are seriously considering a new Subaru Outback Limited. But at the dealership, we saw a Subaru XV Crosstrek that, although it’s not right for us, has a much better color, “desert khaki.” The only green available on the Outback is “cypress green.” I don’t understand why companies choose to put a color on some of their models but not all. They’ve got the paint on hand, so why wouldn’t they use it across the board?
A:
The reasons are many. One is that some models are designed to appeal to a younger or older crowd than others, and research and sales have shown that certain colors speak to a particular group more than other colors do. No one wants to be stuck with a huge number of vehicles at year’s end that no one bought because the color was a turn-off.
Another reason, as odd as it seems, is that some colors just flat-out look better on some vehicles than they would on others. I believe carmakers aren’t always right when they make their choices, but sometimes they are. It’s easy to concede, for example, that the eye-catching burnished orange color called “hot lava” that looks totally cool on the funky little Scion iQ would be a ridiculous choice for the classically styled Cadillac STS, which is available in the much more traditional silver, white, black and so on.
Q:
We’re looking at the Ford Flex, which the sales guy said has a “safety canopy system.” What is that?
A:
It’s a side-curtain airbag system, which
Ford says uses “advanced” technology and sensors to time the deployment of the bags.
The system helps occupants avoid bad injuries and/or ejection in a rollover accident. Rollovers occur over a longer time period than the single slamming blast of most side-impact crashes (which bring the vehicle to an abrupt halt). So, the safety canopy remains inflated for several seconds.
The safety canopy also protects people in sideimpact crashes.
The system was first introduced more than a decade ago.
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