Breakthrough PPG Matte Clear Film Wraps New Mustangs

Ford and PPG are collaborating on a styling merger of two current trends; the desire for matte paint finishes and the popularity of wrapping cars in protective films over their paint.

The 2024 Ford Mustang is now available with matte clear film applied at the factory to provide a satiny smooth finish as an alternative to the normal gloss finish of the car’s paint.

The difference between gloss and matte finishes on the Mustang. FORD

This film layer also adds protection, keeping the paint shielded from oxidation and road salt. Unlike aftermarket films available until now, the PPG film has the durability to be covered by Ford’s three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

PPG’s new film is not the familiar polyvinylchloride (PVC) film that is commonly available for installation at many detail shops. But CEO of PPG Advanced Surface Technologies, Daniel Bencun, declined to say exactly what material this new film is made of. “Secret sauce,” he chuckled. The material is designed to withstand harsh detergents used at hand or touchless car washes, road salt, bird droppings, bug splatter, and asphalt residue.

The film is a product of PPG’s joint venture with entrotech, Inc. In addition to clear films like the one used by Ford, they also offer paint films that have a color layer embedded in the film to provide a color change. It is also possible to print on the films to produce the kind of graphics commonly seen on race cars.

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A significant difference between the PPG film and traditional PVC wraps is that unlike those, the PPG film does not need to be heated to be applied, Bencun said. “Our film brings a more sustainable solution,” he said. “It is a simpler application and consumes less energy. Customers are looking for solutions that use less energy.”

Once applied, customers can expect the film to last, he added. While Ford’s warranty on the car is for three years, PPG’s promise for aftermarket customers using this film is that it is good for a full decade. “We do not see the same degradation of our products versus the PVC solutions on the market,” said Bencun. “Ours doesn’t yellow.”

Bencun was unable to describe Ford’s process; whether PPG provides basic rolls of the film or whether it supplies the film pre-cut into the correct shapes to fit the Mustang. But the company can provide that service to customers, he said. “There is a huge interest in the film,” Bencun observed. “There are a lot of people knocking on our door.”

There are a few restrictions on the availability of the clear matte film option for the Mustang, which is priced at $5,995. Mustang Dark Horse customers will not get the standard Hood Accent Stripe or be able to select the Painted Racing Stripe. The film is also not available with the GT California Special package or the optional graphics packages on the Mustang EcoBoost and GT. Ford will deliver Mustang coupes covered in the matte clear film starting in June 2024, with it available on Mustang convertibles by the end of the year.

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