2022 Lotus Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 2022 Lotus Vibe

By 2022, Lotus was finally ready to play with the big boys, bridging the gap between raw track rats and the "daily supercar" crowd with the Emira. It was a year of transition, where the heavy hitters like the Evora were taking a bow to make room for the future. In our shop, while the factory was pumping out fancy new shades, the only color that truly mattered was Chrome Orange Tricoat. It's a loud, high-energy finish that captures the exact moment Lotus decided to stop being a niche secret and start being a head-turner on every street corner.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2022, the robots at the factory were so precise that they managed to apply the absolute bare minimum of clear coat required to keep the car shiny. It's a masterpiece of "Robot Efficiency," but it leaves you with a finish that's about as thick as a sticky note. While the composite bodies on these modern Lotuses won't rust, they have their own personality-don't be surprised if you see "micro-blisters" or tiny bubbles appearing on the doors or rear tailgate. That's just moisture trapped in the fiberglass or carbon fiber throwing a tantrum. These thin factory coats are notorious for stone chips, especially on those low-slung front bumpers that act like a vacuum for road grit.

Restoration Tip

Since you're dealing with a Tricoat like Chrome Orange, patience is your only friend. Because the factory clear is so thin, you can't just "blob" on a repair and hope to sand it flat later-you'll burn through the surrounding clear coat before you even get close. Instead, build your layers slowly. Apply your base, then your mid-coat pearl, and finally the clear in thin, delicate passes using a fine-tipped brush or a toothpick. Let each layer cure fully so you don't trap any solvent under the surface, which is exactly what caused those factory blisters in the first place. Build the height up gradually until it's just proud of the surface, then a light polish is all you need.