Two new colours are being added to the SEAT colour range, Liminal and Oniric, created exclusively for the SEAT Ibiza and SEAT Arona updates
Behind each colour there’s a creative and research process involving hundreds of tests and inspiration from the virtual world
Oniric is already available on both models, and Liminal will be available as of March 2026
Milton Keynes, 08/01/2026. How many colours are there in the world? Although experts estimate that the human eye can perceive between 7 and 10 million different variations, there’s no real way of knowing the exact number. Due to the combinations of light and its wavelengths, in theory there are infinite possibilities. So, to create a new colour that makes a visual impact is a challenge for the canvases of the SEAT Ibiza and the SEAT Arona. “Designing a new colour is a creative process involving hundreds of tests until, drop by drop, we get to the desired shade and say this is clearly the one” explains Carol Gómez, a Colour & Trim designer at SEAT.
In living colour.The design of new colours also follows trends. That’s why the designers at SEAT are constantly in touch with all the latest developments, even beyond the automotive world. “On this occasion, to create the exclusive colours for the Ibiza and the Arona, we took inspiration from the virtual world, with shades with a touch of artificiality that we see in this parallel reality” according to the SEAT Colour & Trim designer. The result of their research is two new colours, Liminal and Oniric, which perfectly match the youthful, dynamic spirit of the SEAT Ibiza and the robust, agile character of the SEAT Arona.
Realities from other worlds.The term “liminal” is used to describe something that’s in a state of transition, such as the spaces between two physical places or the intermediate stages in a mental process. “We wanted to create a totally different red, and when we got there and thought of a name, this was the perfect one. The colour has a somewhat artificial look, but at the same time it’s real, it’s transitional. Virtual reality is also real. It takes us to a whole new colour world” says Gómez.
In the case of Oniric, they wanted to create a very clean, clear, particle-free colour. “We imagined a calm, dream-like lake in the virtual world… Hence its clarity with greenish tones that transport us to other realities.”
Canvases in motion.A colour is perceived completely differently when it’s applied to either paper, fabric or metal. “The same thing happens if it’s applied to small or large objects, or if it’s seen in natural or artificial light. So creating a colour for an object as large as a car, which is also going to be seen in motion, is quite a challenge” says Gómez. Liminal is a clear example of this. “It’s a red that can be perceived as more orange or more magenta depending on how the light hits it, as it contains different pigments. Thus, the car reveals different nuances as you move around it or change your viewing angle” she adds.
Together with Hypnotic, these two colours are exclusive to the new SEAT Ibiza and SEAT Arona models. Oniric is already available, and Liminal will be available from March 2026, ready to brighten up streets and roads around the world.
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