COLOR CODEWCL - Solar Orange MetallicSubaru Touch-Up Paint

The Look

If you drive a late-model WRX or a bold Impreza, you know this color does not do subtle. It was the launch face of the 2022 redesign, and while some owners joke about their cars looking like high-visibility traffic cones, the road presence is undeniable. This is an aggressive, high-energy hue that pairs perfectly with the rugged black cladding found on the newer chassis. It is the kind of color that makes your car look fast even when it is parked in your driveway, but because it is so bright, every rock chip and scratch shows up like a thumbprint on a clean window.

Technical Details

This finish is a complex metallic that leans heavily into pearl territory depending on how the sun hits it. Metallic paints are notoriously difficult for quick fixes because the tiny flakes like to clump together or sink to the bottom of the container. If you apply it too heavily in one spot, you will end up with mottling-those dark, cloudy patches where the metal has bunched up. You want the flakes to lay flat and even so the light bounces off the panel correctly. This color also tends to look different under garage lights compared to natural sunlight, changing from a deep, burnt pumpkin to a searing, electric orange.

Best Practices

To find your verification, look for the silver or black manufacturing plate located on the passenger side door pillar or stamped onto the strut tower under the hood. Before you spray or dab Subaru Solar Orange Metallic (check for code WCL), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is the most important step for a metallic finish because it ensures those flakes are fully suspended in the liquid. Test the color on the included card to see how the orange shifts in the light before you touch the car. When you start, keep the container moving at all times to avoid pooling. Use light, thin layers and give it plenty of drying time between each application to build the color up properly.