Self Healing Paint…Finally!?
You read it right, self healing paint! We have been waiting ages for this on our cars. Is it finally here on the new Infiniti EX and FX? Answer, Kinda’. Infiniti calls their new product the Infiniti Scratch Shield. However, it is not the paint that is the “miracle” news here, it’s the clearcoat. Infiniti claims the clearcoat is able to repair fine damage such as fingernail scratches and swirl marks from washing. The clearcoat is able to restore the surface close to its original state while maintaining the car’s gloss level over time. Using a special highly elastic resin, the Scratch Shield process can take anywhere from one day to a week depending on the ambient temperature and depth of the scratch . This resin is combined with a conventional clearcoat to increase its flexibility and strength. The Scratch Shield will not be able to repair damage that gets past the clearcoat and into the paint.
Think of it this way, when it is warm enough out, the clearcoat can become just flexible enough to “stretch” back to its original shape. Guess up here in New England, we will have to wait a while in the winter for the technology to do its work. On the other hand, I do have a couple of questions. How will the body shops cope with this brand new product used on only one vehicle brand in the US. More importantly, how much will it cost to get body work fixed?
