Background

To comply with UK and EEC Environmental Protection Industry legalization regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, Jaguar is introducing a water base color coat paint system.

Use of the system will begin with the introduction of the 1998 Model Year vehicle range.

The change to water base paint only affects the color coat of Jaguar's current clear lacquer coat over base color coat (COB) paint system. The full introduction of 1998 Model Year water base colors will be achieved as a running change, color by color. This will mean that a number of 1998 Model Year vehicles will be painted in solvent basecoat material.

To distinguish between solvent and water base paint finishes, a new body color paint code has been devised. The new codes differentiate between solvent and water base paint; British Racing Green codes are shown as an example:

CURRENT SOLVENT BASE PAINT
JBC: 753
ALPHA CODE: HFB

NEW WATER BASE PAINT
JBC 1753
ALPHA CODE: HGD

The differences are that a "1 "prefix has been added to the water base paint JBC number and the Alpha Code has changed.

Unlike solvent based paint, water base paint combines a solution of solvent and water to suspend the paint solids.

Water base paint solutions are shown:

Solid Colors i.e. British Racing Green, Westminster Blue, etc:
12% solvent + 28% solids + 60% water

White Solid only:
12% solvent + 38% solids + 50% water

Mica Metallic:
12% solvent + 16% solids + 72% water

Vehicles painted with water base paint can be repaired using a, solvent base refinish paint material; similarly a vehicle painted with solvent base paint can be repaired using a water base refinish paint material. Jaguar's preference will be that all paint repairs, whether Warranty or crash related, are performed using a water base refinish paint.

Jaguar's aim is to progressively introduce a water base repair standard in all of Jaguar's markets after a period of consultation has been undertaken to assess individual market requirements.