Ford Cactus Grey (NE) Touch Up Paint

The Look

You see this color everywhere now, and for good reason. On your Bronco or Maverick, it creates a rugged, "overland" aesthetic that feels at home in the dirt. It is a chameleon that shifts between a soft sage green and a cool concrete grey depending on whether the sun is out or you are parked in the shade. Since your vehicle is likely fresh off the lot, you want to maintain that flat, tactical appearance that makes these modern Fords stand out from the sea of basic silvers. It hides road dust better than almost any other color in the current lineup, which fits the adventurous spirit of the Bronco Sport and Mach-E perfectly.

Technical Details

This is a solid finish, which means it lacks the metallic flakes or pearl additives found in many other modern paints. This is a massive advantage for your repair because you do not have to worry about tiny particles standing up at the wrong angle and creating dark spots. However, solid pigments are dense. If you apply the paint too heavily in one pass, you will create a visible ridge or a "halo" where the new paint meets the original finish. Because the color shifts so much based on ambient light, matching it requires patience and a careful eye for depth rather than shimmer.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Ford Cactus Grey (check for code NE), you need to shake it for 60 seconds to ensure the heavy pigments are fully mixed. You will find that identifier on the factory sticker inside your driver's side door jamb. Test the color on the included card and let it dry completely to see how the hue reacts to your local lighting. When you move to the vehicle, keep the container moving to lay down thin, even layers. Allow plenty of drying time between each pass so the paint can shrink down and level out against the surface for a flush repair.