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Mazda’s New Zinc Green Could Become One Of Its Most Distinctive Colors Yet
Mazda has introduced a new exterior finish called Zinc Green, a fresh paint option that makes its debut on the MX-5 Miata and could eventually spread to other models in the brand’s lineup. It is not a new vehicle launch, but it is still a notable move from Mazda, especially for a company that has spent years building a strong visual identity around paint design and body surfacing.
The new color was first shown on the Mazda MX-5 in Japan, where the roadster is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and Mazda says the shade was developed to complement the company’s Kodo design language while also giving the car a more distinctive, lifestyle-oriented presence.
Mazda has unveiled Zinc Green as a new exterior color, debuting on the MX-5 Miata before a possible wider rollout.
Mazda Is Using The MX-5 To Introduce A New Visual Statement
The MX-5 is an appropriate place to launch a color like this.
Mazda describes Zinc Green as a shade inspired by urban environments and outdoor landscapes, designed to sit somewhere between a more rugged earthy tone and a premium modern finish. That makes it a natural fit for the Miata, a car that has always balanced classic roadster charm with a more contemporary design identity.
But the bigger point is that Mazda does not appear to see Zinc Green as a one-off novelty. The company has already indicated that the finish could work on SUVs and crossovers as well, suggesting this may become part of a broader color strategy rather than remaining exclusive to the MX-5.
Why Zinc Green Matters More Than A Typical Paint Update
Mazda has built much of its modern image around design, and color plays a bigger role in that strategy than it does for many mainstream brands.
Over the last decade, finishes like Soul Red Crystal have become part of Mazda’s identity in the U.S. market, helping the brand stand out visually in a crowded field of crossovers and compact cars. Zinc Green may not be as dramatic, but it gives Mazda another way to broaden that identity with something more subtle, outdoorsy and contemporary.
Zinc Green gives the MX-5 a different personality from Mazda’s more familiar bright metallic finishes.
Mazda Could Use This Color To Freshen More Than Just The Miata
For now, Mazda has not confirmed which U.S.-market vehicles will receive Zinc Green next. But the fact that the company is already talking about the finish in the context of other body styles makes it clear that the MX-5 is likely only the starting point.
That is what makes this announcement more interesting than a standard paint update. Mazda is testing a new visual direction with one of its most recognizable enthusiast cars, while leaving the door open for the color to become part of a wider product story across the brand.
Mazda says the new shade was designed to work with its Kodo design language and highlight body surfaces in a different way.
A Small Update That Fits Mazda’s Bigger Design Strategy
This is not the biggest automotive story of the day, but it is the kind of move that still matters for a design-led brand like Mazda.
The company is not simply adding another color to the brochure. It is using Zinc Green to experiment with a different tone in its design palette, one that feels less flashy than some of Mazda’s existing hero colors but potentially more versatile across sports cars, SUVs and lifestyle-focused products.
The new Zinc Green finish may start with the MX-5, but Mazda is already hinting at a wider future for the color.
If Mazda does expand Zinc Green beyond the MX-5, this could end up becoming one of the brand’s more distinctive visual signatures in the years ahead — especially in a market where color can still be one of the simplest ways to make a familiar vehicle feel fresh again.
Slate has confirmed pricing, improved driving range and new details for its affordable electric pickup ahead of deliveries.
Slate has officially confirmed pricing and new specifications for its highly anticipated electric pickup. Starting at just $26,400 including destination, the Slate electric truck will become one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States when deliveries begin later this year.
The startup also revealed improvements in driving range, payload capacity and charging performance ahead of production.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, making it one of the most affordable EV pickups in the U.S.
Affordable price with extensive customization
The entry-level Blank Slate pickup starts at $26,400, including a $1,450 destination fee.
Customers can also choose two SUV variants:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Slate will sell vehicles directly to customers, with every truck leaving the factory in the same gray finish before receiving one of 100 available vinyl wraps. Around 40 wrap colors cost just $499, while nearly all accessories can be installed later by owners.
Buyers can personalize the Slate with dozens of wraps and accessories after purchase.
More range and better utility
One of the biggest improvements is the adoption of a new 63-kWh LFP battery, increasing estimated driving range from 150 miles to 205 miles.
The rear-wheel-drive electric motor produces 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, allowing the truck to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 90 mph.
Charging is handled through a Tesla-compatible NACS connector, supporting DC fast charging up to 120 kW and an 11-kW onboard AC charger capable of fully recharging the battery in about four hours with Level 2 equipment.
Payload capacity has also increased to 1,550 pounds, while towing capacity now reaches 2,000 pounds. Thanks to its electric architecture, the truck also offers a 7-cubic-foot front trunk in addition to its five-foot cargo bed.
The Slate electric truck now offers up to 205 miles of range with its new LFP battery.
Slate says it has already received approximately 180,000 reservations and expects to begin customer deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2026. The company aims to ramp production to 150,000 vehicles annually by late next year, positioning the Slate as one of the most affordable and customizable electric pickups available in the U.S. market.
The affordable Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, but adding accessories can nearly double its final price.
The Slate electric truck has attracted attention with its low starting price, but buyers who customize it heavily could end up paying almost twice as much. After revealing its $1,450 destination fee, the startup’s online configurator shows how quickly the cost can climb with optional accessories.
While the base pickup remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market, personalization comes at a premium.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400 before adding optional accessories.
Three body styles and hundreds of customization options
Slate offers the truck in three different configurations:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Customers can personalize nearly every aspect of the vehicle, including custom vinyl wraps, decals, auxiliary lighting, roof racks, grille designs, wider fender flares and 20-inch wheels.
A custom exterior wrap alone adds $1,599.99, while premium wheels increase the price by another $1,399.99.
Buyers can choose from dozens of exterior accessories and custom appearance packages.
Interior upgrades quickly increase the price
The cabin follows the same philosophy, allowing buyers to add features that are absent from the standard truck.
Optional equipment includes a center console, upgraded speakers, storage systems, floor mats, colored interior trim and a dashboard-mounted tablet that serves as the infotainment display.
After selecting nearly every available option on the Fastback SUV, the total reached $47,744.39, and that figure could climb even higher since some accessories still don’t have official pricing.
A fully equipped Slate Fastback SUV can approach $48,000 with optional upgrades.
The Slate electric truck remains one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States, but its highly customizable approach means buyers can easily transform a budget-friendly pickup into a much more expensive vehicle. For customers looking to maximize value, choosing accessories carefully will be key to keeping the final price under control.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner claims the automaker should return tariff-related price increases after receiving a federal refund.
Ford is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit after a California customer argued that the automaker should return tariff-related price increases to buyers. The lawsuit comes after the federal government agreed to refund import duties previously collected under tariffs that were later ruled unlawful.
The case centers on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is manufactured in Mexico and was affected by higher import costs.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner is seeking a refund through a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Customer says Ford should share tariff refund
The lawsuit was filed on July 9 by California resident Jason Bullock, who claims Ford increased prices and destination charges to offset import tariffs on Mexican-built vehicles.
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the federal government agreed to refund affected import duties.
Ford has previously estimated it could recover approximately $1.3 billion through those refunds.
The lawsuit argues Ford should return tariff-related costs to affected customers.
The legal battle could affect other major companies
According to the complaint, Ford would receive an unfair financial benefit if it keeps both the government refund and the higher prices previously paid by customers.
The lawsuit argues that buyers who absorbed those additional costs deserve compensation now that the tariffs are being refunded.
Ford is not the only company facing this type of legal challenge. Similar lawsuits have also been filed against Nike, Amazon and Costco, meaning the first case to reach a final ruling could establish an important legal precedent for future consumer claims.
The outcome of the Ford lawsuit could influence similar cases against other major U.S. companies.
Although the case is still in its early stages, it raises important questions about how companies should handle government tariff refunds when previous import costs were passed directly to consumers. The outcome could have broader implications for both automakers and retailers operating in the U.S. market.
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