Check out the flashy new Mark 42 armor from “Iron Man 3” — yes, the 42nd version of Tony Stark’s flying suit. (The hero wore the Mark 7 when last seen in “The Avengers.”) As “Iron Man 3” opens, Stark has been spending most of his time in his home workshop, tirelessly building newer versions of the Iron Man. Here’s the inside scoop on the latest iteration. All it needs is a couple of cupholders and a six-CD changer.

AUTO-ARMOR

Stark no longer has to climb into his armor. Individual pieces of the suit can now fly and latch onto him at his mental command via chips he has implanted in his arm.

GOLDBLINGER

The biggest change with the Mark 42 is the coloring. Previous armor versions were more red than gold, while this one is the reverse, recalling the hero’s early comic-book days when he was known as “The Golden Avenger.”

Visual development supervisor Ryan Meinerding and his team were tasked with tweaking Iron Man’s suit more radically for this movie. The only three elements that couldn’t be altered in order for Iron Man to be recognized as Iron Man: the circular arc reactor in his chest plate, the shape of the helmet and the bulky, armored shoulders.

PUZZLE PIECES

Director Shane Black was interested in showing how the individual pieces of the armor fit together, giving the design a busier, less seamless look.