Home
Toyota
News
Thermal Video Showing How Hot Black Cars Get Will Surprise You
Lighter shades of paint get pretty darned hot, too.
02:58
Christopher Smith 
By: Christopher Smith
Aug 29, 2019 at 5:28pm ET
Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google
- (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motor1.com%2Fnews%2F367916%2Fthermal-video-black-cars-hot%2F&text=Thermal%20Video%20Showing%20How%20Hot%20Black%20Cars%20Get%20Will%20Surprise%20You&via=motor1com)
- copy
Share
Comment
Here’s a video we suspect all of you in Motor1.com land will find extremely interesting. Everyone knows that darker colors absorb more heat, while lighter colors reflect heat. If you not a believer in science, put on a pair of shorts and plop down on black leather seats in a convertible that’s been sitting outside in the sun all day. That should give you all the proof you need.
More Hot Topics:
⠀ 
Dodge Demon Burns At Drag Strip While Driver, Officials Argue
This clip from MikesCarInfo on YouTube takes that rather painful approach to the subject and literally visualizes it. Armed with a FLIR camera that detects heat, he approaches a row of Toyota Highlander SUVs that appear identical save for the color. Now, we know the darker colors will be hotter, but exactly how much hotter is really surprising. As luck would have it, black and white Highlanders were parked side-by-side, and the camera registered a full 46-degree difference between them. Specifically, the hood of the Black Toyota was upwards of 159 degrees Fahrenheit, while the white Highlander only showed 113 degrees.
Gallery: FLIR Car Color Heat Test
5
Those shades are certainly at opposite ends of the spectrum, but the clip also takes a close look at SUVs painted light gray and silver – two colors we’d expect to deflect about the same amount of heat as white. In fact, the gray Toyota was nearly as hot as the black one, with 146 degrees showing up on the FLIR camera. The silver SUV was cooler but still registered 129 degrees – significantly hotter than pure white.
What do you think?
View
Comments
According to the video, these SUVs hadn’t been driven recently so the heat on the hood shouldn’t be engine-related. That’s supported by the glimpses we get of the roofs, which aside from those with glass moonroofs appear to have temperature readings similar to the hoods. Could the metallic nature of the silver and gray finishes hold more heat than a plain shade of white?
In any case, this neat video definitely shows how a dark-colored car can be your best friend in winter, and your worst enemy in summer.
Source: MikesCarInfo via YouTube
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
Take our 3 minute survey.
- The Motor1.com Team
Share this Story
- (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motor1.com%2Fnews%2F367916%2Fthermal-video-black-cars-hot%2F&text=Thermal%20Video%20Showing%20How%20Hot%20Black%20Cars%20Get%20Will%20Surprise%20You&via=motor1com)
- copy
GO TO COMMENTS
(
)
Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com
View all comments ( )
Popular
Honda Wants To Take On The Tahoe With An Even Bigger SUV. Here's What We Know
BMW's First Electric 3 Series Wagon Spied Looking Nearly Ready For Production
The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport Proves An Extra Inch Goes A Long Way: Driven
Forget The Sedan: This Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Is A Two-Seat Convertible
latest articles
- This Custom Gunther Werks Porsche Is An 860-HP Tribute To A Racing Legend Oct 21 - Aftermarket / Tuning -
- Ford Recalls 102,000 F-Series Trucks Over A Strange Gauge Issue Oct 21 - Recalls -
- Honda Wants To Take On The Tahoe With An Even Bigger SUV. Here's What We Know Oct 21 - Everything We Know -
- The Michelin Man Has A Strange History. And His Original Design Was Terrifying Oct 21 - Motor101 -
- Toyota Wants To Convince The EU That Some Hybrids Are Zero Emissions Oct 21 - Industry -
- The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport Proves An Extra Inch Goes A Long Way: Driven Oct 21 - New Car Reviews -
- The Tesla Roadster Reinvents Pop-Up Headlights. Sort Of Oct 21 - Design -
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Toyota Wants To Convince The EU That Some Hybrids Are Zero Emissions
Ford Recalls 102,000 F-Series Trucks Over A Strange Gauge Issue
Toyota Driver Moves To Alaska. She Gets Stranded For 2 Months: ‘I Just Found Out It Was Because It’s A Hybrid’
Honda Wants To Take On The Tahoe With An Even Bigger SUV. Here's What We Know
Subaru Built A 510-HP Electric Wagon Without Toyota's Help
The Michelin Man Has A Strange History. And His Original Design Was Terrifying
Toyota Tells Man LED Bulb Can’t Be Replaced Alone—He Needs To Replace The Whole Assembly For $300. Then He Finds This DIY Trick