Coating composition and method for application thereof

A method for forming a multilayered top coat film by applying, on a material to be coated, at least one coloring coating and at least one clear coating in this order, wherein the clear coating for forming the uppermost layer film of the multilayered top coat film is a thermosetting organic solvent coating capable of forming a cured coating film having a TUKON hardness at 20° C. of 15 or more, when measured on a coating film which has been heat-cured at 140° C. for 30 minutes with thickness of 30 μm, and a minimum value of dynamic modulus E′ at a frequency of 110 Hz in the temperature range of 150-200° C., of 1×109 dyn/cm2 or more, which comprises:

• (A) a compound containing at least 2 alicyclic epoxy groups in the molecule and having a number-average molecular weight of smaller than 2,000,
• (B) an epoxy group-containing acrylic resin having a number-average molecular weight of 2,000-50,000, a hydroxyl value of 10-150 mg KOH/g and an epoxy equivalent of 220 or less,
• (C) a thermoinitiated cationic polymerization catalyst, and
• (H) a photofunctional cationic polymerization catalyst,
• wherein the molar ratio of the epoxy groups of the component (A) to the epoxy groups of the component (B) is:
• I to 1:0.05.