Technicians at Peugeot have developed an innovative new type of ‘mood paint’, specifically designed for the brand’s iconic RCZ model, that precisely reflects the driver’s emotions, be it happy, sad, or anything in between.

This pioneering new technology has been made possible by using a psychochromatic coating, which alters the molecular structure of the paint to emit light at varying wavelengths – enabling car owners to travel on ‘the most expressive and emotional journey ever’. Peugeot technicians explained how different driver moods are detected via heat sensors specially built into the steering wheel, which are able to read body temperature, pulse rate and stress levels of the driver.  The exterior colour of the specially-coated RCZ will literally change colour to reflect the mood of the driver. So if you are feeling happy the car will turn a shade of yellow, depending on the extent of the emotion sensed, but should your feelings change to anger and you are hit by a fit of road rage, then the car will change to a deep shade of red.

Speaking about the innovative new ‘mood paint’ concept, product manager, Vince Clisham at Peugeot, said: “This really is a world first for motoring, to have developed a paint that accurately reflects the emotion of the driver, will no doubt have our competitors green with envy. Particularly as our customers can experience this innovation behind the wheel of the RCZ – a sports coupé that already inspires goose-bumps with its double-bubble roof line.”

Peugeot, head of innovations, based in Paris, Flora Polis, explained: “Peugeot is all about motion and emotion so we were keen to continue developing this innovative new ‘mood paint’ so that our customers are now able to experience – and reveal to others – the true emotion of motion. Other shades included in the emotional spectrum colour range are: dark blue – for when drivers are feeling a little down, while a hue of green will spread across the exterior when a driver is detected to be feeling very relaxed. However motorists have also been warned that the ‘mood paint’ is available in a distinct shade of pink too – triggered whenever a driver feels embarrassed or the special detectors pick up that they are attracted to another motorist or pedestrian. The Peugeot RCZ is the first car to demonstrate this astonishing new reactive paint colour technology and as long as drivers are ‘happy’ to express their emotions, the whole spectrum of body colour is available to them.