I looked at trekbikes.com and I think the Pilot 1.2 WSD would be a great bike for all kinds of road riding, including long distance. Of course, I'd change to clipless pedals and swap the saddle for my favorite, but I'd do that with almost any new bike.

The main upgrades I see in the Pilot 2.1 WSD specs are
- the ZR9000 frame (a tiny bit lighter weight, no big deal),
- Ultegra parts instead of Tiagra with some 105 (again no big deal)
- Shimano ST-R700 STI adjustable reach levers (potentially a big deal if you have small hands)
- It comes with Shimano SPD clipless pedals

In my experience you're right to care about the color. My favorite bikes over the years have been the ones I liked to look at, even when they've been heavier, slower, lower grade parts, etc. For what it's worth, I also prefer the Lava Red.