There's a Porsche initiative that's even more uncommon than Paint to Sample | Carscoops

      The Paint to Sample Plus service at Porsche typically takes about nine months just for testing and developing a color based on a customer's provided sample swatch.

      Porsche has emphasized the distinctions between its two Paint-to-Sample services. The regular PTS relies on an existing palette of colors, while PTS Plus caters to completely new shades.

      Different paints are used for the body and trim because they are composed of different materials.

      You may be aware of Porsche's Paint to Sample program that permits customers to configure their cars in colors not included in the standard color selection. However, it's worth noting that there are actually two separate programs, and it can take nearly a year to have a 911 painted in a color that has never been used before.

      Porsche recently clarified the differences between its more accessible Paint to Sample service, which offers hundreds of additional colors, and the more complex Paint to Sample Plus, which allows customers to match their car to any item they desire, such as a nail polish or handbag.

      For those considering purchasing a new Porsche or simply exploring options, they can use the company’s configurator to see how various models like the 911, Macan, Cayenne, Taycan, or Panamera would appear in one of the 191 existing PTS colors. Many of these shades are classic colors such as Bahama Yellow or Irish Green, while others are specific hues developed for PTS Plus clients and later incorporated into the standard PTS collection.

      There is, of course, a significant price difference between the two services. Adding a regular metallic color to a 911 ranges from $830 to $2,980, while a PTS color upgrade starts at $14,190. However, the comprehensive PTS+ service costs around $31,070, which is nearly a quarter of the price of the most basic 911, making it typically reserved for higher-spec models.

      If you’re interested in PTS+, be prepared for a wait.

      The most surprising aspect is the duration it takes Porsche to transform your chosen item—whether it’s your grandmother’s brooch, a football shirt, a Balinese beer mat, or any other object—into a paintable liquid fit for a 911 or Taycan. This service is only available for vehicles manufactured at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen headquarters.

      While standard Paint to Sample orders add about three months to the timeline from deposit to delivery, PTS Plus customers need to be significantly more patient: at least nine months or more. After Porsche receives the color sample from the customer, they begin a detailed feasibility study to determine if it can be accurately matched in both natural and artificial lighting, then proceed to develop it for painting.

      Before any paint is applied to the customer's car, a full test bodyshell is first painted in the new color. If the tests are successful, the paint is named—sometimes after the customer—and then prepared for application on the actual vehicle. The entire development process averages around nine months, meaning some customers may wait close to an entire year before receiving their cars.

      You can visualize how your preferred new Porsche would look in one of the PTS colors using the standard configurator, where you can also find intriguing historical tidbits about each color. Alternatively, there’s a dedicated Paint to Sample microsite that allows you to easily see how various models would appear in the same paint shade.