One Does Want a Hint of Color: VW Golf R Buyers Can Choose From 40 Hues

Not long ago, a certain automaker told everyone that they could have any color they wanted on their new car as long as it was black. Well, OK, so I guess that was rather long ago when Ford specified that on the Model T (and the purpose of that limitation was because black was the fastest-drying color in the palette, and it was cranking them out so fast that speed was of the essence).

Related: StaR Performers: 2018 Honda Civic Type R Vs. 2018 Volkswagen Golf R

A different kind of speed is the essence we're talking about now — the kind that comes behind the wheel of the truly excellent 2019 Volkswagen Golf R. For the new model year, VW is doing something unique — it's offering the Golf R in colors other than the traditional German automotive rainbow of silver, gray, black, red, white and sometimes blue. A lot more colors, actually.

The new Volkswagen Spektrum Program will allow buyers of the 2019 Golf R to specify one of 40 custom colors for their hot hatch — for an additional $2,500, of course. Developed in conjunction with Volkswagen Canada, the program features a wide variety of colors — some new, some from cars from VW's own history, some from brands owned by Volkswagen Group that aren't VWs at all.

For instance, you can get:

• The Viper Green Metallic that was found on the European VW Scirocco Mark 3 and later appeared on the Lamborghini Huracan
• Deep Blue Pearl from the Mark 4 and Mark 5 Golf R32
• Ginster Yellow from the 1997 Driver's Edition GTI
• Mars Red from the original Mark 1 GTI

There are still five standard colors to choose from for the Golf R, and those are likely the ones you'll see on sales lots unless dealers decide to get adventurous in their ordering. To see the 40 custom colors, you'll have to venture inside the showroom to see the color swatches that are being sent to dealerships or pop online to VW.com to see the configurator when it eventually goes live. Ordering one of the Spektrum Program colors will be done by special dealer order, which will then take two to four months before the vehicle is delivered, according to VW.

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