By Ifeoma Agu
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda Motor Corp. announced Friday the development of “Navy Blue Mica,” a new body color designed to offer higher definition and vivid saturation across its vehicle lineup.
The color will make its global debut on the all-new CX-5 at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 later this month. Mazda officials said the shade is intended to become a long-standing staple for the brand, which has utilized more than 150 different variations of blue since the 1970s.
Developed under the design keyword “high resolution,” Navy Blue Mica is an evolution of the company’s “Deep Crystal Blue Mica.” The new finish utilizes a specific horizontal arrangement of mica particles to create a sharp contrast between bright highlights and deep shadows.
“Mazda will continue to pursue a design that represents lively energy to evolve the ‘joy of driving,’” the company said in a statement. The goal of the new pigment is to ensure vehicle textures and design details remain accentuated in all weather conditions, from direct sunlight to rain.
The CX-5, which has been Mazda’s global best-seller since 2018, was selected as the launch vehicle for the color due to its focus on “day-to-day usability.” Following the CX-5 launch, the company plans to roll out the finish sequentially across its other models.
The move reinforces Mazda’s design philosophy that paint is a crucial element in giving form to a vehicle. By blending different types of mica particles with high precision, the development team aimed to deliver a level of clarity that surpasses previous metallic and mica paint offerings.
Attendees at the Tokyo Auto Salon will be the first to see the overseas specification model of the CX-5 in the new hue before it reaches international markets.
