What Is the Name of the Audi Silver Paint?

The most iconic Audi silver paint is called “Nardo Gray” for gray and, more classically for silver, “Aluminium Silver” and “Ice Silver Metallic”, but Audi has used many different silver tones over time rather than a single universal “Audi silver.” The exact name depends on the model year, market, and trim line, so owners need the car’s paint code to identify the precise shade.

Why There Isn’t Just One “Audi Silver”

Audi, like most premium manufacturers, does not rely on a single, fixed silver paint across its entire range. Instead, it offers a rotating palette of silver and gray finishes: some bright and metallic, others matte or pearlescent, and some specific to performance or special editions. These paints often change names and formulas every few years, which is why two cars that both look “silver” at a glance may officially be wearing entirely different colors.

The Most Common and Recognizable Audi Silver Tones

Over the years, several Audi silver and near-silver colors have become especially recognizable, either due to their popularity with buyers or their association with performance models. Below is a closer look at the main names you’re likely to encounter if you are asking about the “Audi silver paint.”

Classic and Popular Metallic Silvers

The following list summarizes some of the most widely used bright silvers Audi has offered in recent decades, especially in Europe and North America.

• Aluminium Silver Metallic (often code LY7M or 5B) – One of the most classic Audi silvers, bright and neutral, widely used across A4, A6, A8 and older models in the 2000s and early 2010s.
• Ice Silver Metallic (commonly LY7C or P5) – A cool-toned silver with a slightly bluish cast; very popular on A4, A5 and Q5 models in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
• Floret Silver Metallic (often LZ7G or L5) – A more modern metallic silver used widely through the 2010s on A3, A4, Q3 and others, slightly darker and warmer than some earlier silvers.
• Brilliant Silver / Brilliant Silver Metallic (various codes, including LY7W in some markets) – A bright, clean silver seen on many older Audi models and shared with other Volkswagen Group brands in some years.
• Titanium Silver (market- and year-dependent codes) – A slightly darker, more technical-looking silver sometimes used in S line or sportier trims.

These colors collectively represent what many drivers casually call “Audi silver,” even though the technical names and paint codes differ. When people remember the archetypal silver Audi sedan or Avant from the 2000s or 2010s, it is often in Aluminium Silver, Ice Silver, or Floret Silver.

Grey Tones Often Mistaken for “Silver”

Modern Audi buyers frequently use “silver” and “gray” interchangeably, especially when talking about the brand’s bolder gray finishes that became fashionable on performance models. The following list highlights some of these tones, which are not strictly silver but are often part of the same conversation.

• Nardo Gray – A flat, non-metallic gray made famous by RS models and popularized across the industry; although technically a gray, many customers asking about “that Audi silver-grey color” often mean Nardo Gray.
• Daytona Gray Pearl Effect – A dark, pearl gray that can appear almost metallic black in low light; widely used on S and RS models and sometimes chosen instead of classic silver.
• Suzuka Gray – A very light gray with a hint of white, used on some RS and special editions; visually sits between white and silver, which is why some buyers classify it as a type of silver.
• Quantum Gray – Another solid, stylish light gray, less metallic show and more design-focused, commonly offered on compact and mid-size models.

These gray finishes reflect Audi’s shift toward sophisticated, design-led colors. While not traditional silvers, they now occupy similar showroom space and are frequently conflated with “Audi silver” in casual conversation.

How to Find the Exact Name of Your Audi’s Silver Paint

If your question is practical—because you need touch-up paint, refinishing, or to confirm a color for resale—then you will need more than just “Audi silver.” You must identify the precise factory paint code and its corresponding name.

Locating the Paint Code on Your Audi

Audi places the official paint code on labels inside the car and in documentation. The list below outlines where owners should typically look.

• Service book / maintenance booklet – The delivery or service booklet usually has a sticker with the paint code alongside the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and other option codes.
• Spare wheel well or trunk area – In many models, a white or silver sticker is placed near the spare wheel, inside the trunk lid, or in the trunk floor area, listing the paint code.
• Driver’s side door jamb – Some builds show either the full code or a shorter color reference on a sticker in the door frame.
• MyAudi app or dealer records – If you have a connected account or can contact an Audi dealer with your VIN, they can typically retrieve the exact paint name and code.

Once you find this code—often something like LY7M, LY7C, or LZ7G—you can match it to the official color name in Audi’s catalogs, online paint databases, or through a dealer or professional body shop.

Why Audi Silver Matters: Heritage and Branding

Audi’s affinity for silver is rooted in the history of the “Silver Arrows,” the legendary German racing cars of the 1930s, including Auto Union—the ancestor of Audi. The bare, polished aluminum bodies of those race cars created the mythic silver color that has influenced German performance and luxury brands for decades.

In the modern era, Audi’s consistent use of sleek silver and gray paints is part of its design language: a visual shorthand for technology, precision, and understated luxury. From aluminum-style interior trims to brushed-metal accents and silver exterior paint, this palette supports the brand’s image as the most “technical” of the German premium trio.

Practical Advice for Choosing or Matching Audi Silver

Choosing or matching an Audi silver paint can be confusing because many shades look similar under showroom lighting but reveal differences outdoors. The points below can help owners or buyers navigate that decision.

• Check the car in different lighting – View the vehicle in direct sun, shade and at dusk; some silvers appear warmer or darker in certain conditions.
• Don’t rely on memory or photos – Screens and cameras distort color; always confirm with an official code rather than guessing based on online images.
• Use the paint code for repairs – For touch-up pens, spray cans, or bodywork, the code is critical to avoid mismatched panels, especially with metallic or pearl finishes.
• Consider gray vs. silver – If you like the idea of silver but want a more contemporary or aggressive look, colors like Nardo Gray or Daytona Gray might be more appealing.
• Ask the dealer for the exact name – Dealers can print a build sheet or option list showing the official marketing name tied to the paint code on your car.

By combining the visual inspection with the technical paint code, buyers and owners can be confident they are dealing with the correct Audi silver—or gray—before ordering paint or committing to a purchase.

Summary

There is no single universal “Audi silver paint” name. Instead, Audi has offered a range of prominent silver tones over the years, most notably Aluminium Silver Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, and more recently Floret Silver Metallic, alongside fashionable gray shades such as Nardo Gray and Daytona Gray that often enter the same conversation. To identify the exact silver on any given car, the only reliable method is to locate the official paint code—usually on a sticker in the trunk, service book, or door jamb—and match it to Audi’s color listings or dealer records.