RECARO SPORT SEAT MILESTONES: THE 80s

In the third part of our series on RECARO sport seat milestones of the past fifty years, we look at the 1980s, the decade of Neue Deutsche Welle and oversized shoulder pads: at RECARO, this was a period marked by continuous advancements in seat development expertise. Proven quality – the latest technology. Consequently, the two “new” models during the first half of the 80s were further developments of the highly successful RECARO models “Rallye” and “IdealSeat-LS”. The decade opened with a new RECARO Rallye seat, now retroactively designated the “Rallye III”. It entered the market in 1980 and was a further development of the “Rallye II” from 1974. A first look reveals more prominent side bolsters sticking further out from the backrest and seat cushion than was seen on the predecessor, with recesses at waist level clearly oriented towards the form of the 1973 “IdealSeat-LS”. The optional mesh headrest for better rear vision also recalls the 1970s street model – another great example of how RECARO uses its experience from both the racetrack and the street to complement one another. An additional new aspect of the “Rallye III” was the revised and modified backrest folding mechanism, which improved the basic rigidity of this lightweight rally seat while also letting it fold further than its predecessor. Three years later, the beloved “IdealSeat-LS” also received an update: with the goal of delivering an automotive seating culture that was suited to the era of modern people, the company brought the RECARO seat “LS” onto the market in 1983/84. This offered more comfort down to the last detail. Operating levers for backrest adjustment and the free swing mechanism now existed on both sides, while an optional seat heater also ensured seating comfort in the winter too. There was an entirely new emphasis on optimal seating climate in general. All models of the 1984 generation acquired exceptionally breathable fabrics and padding materials with their new design. But two other principles written into the RECARO DNA – ergonomics and safety – were also upheld by the new RECARO seat “LS”, with firm upholstery shaped by the latest ergonomic research to relieve the driver’s muscles and prevent fatigue, even on long drives. The passive safety of the driver was considerably increased by the first use of new computer-calculated seat structures made of “high-strength” steel. Then in 1989, RECARO once again revolutionized the car seat: with the “A8”, the market saw the launch of the world’s first seat with a backrest made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic. Named after the highway running past Kirchheim unter Teck, the “A8” had a self-supporting shell that was manufactured through an injection-molding process – only the backrest’s bracket and adjusters, along with the connections to the seat rails, were made of metal. The basis for this lightweight seat was the “Sylam A8” seat study. With the system laminate known as “Sylam”, high-strength plastics could now be combined with metal components during production. This was the first time the process was used in series production. The seat appeared to have been designed with a single stroke, with a seamless transition from the backrest to the stationary headrest. In terms of customizing the “A8”, there were hardly any limits, with customers free to choose different paintwork and covers. And so at IAA 1989, the seat was even exhibited in a pink and purple combination – after all, it was the 80s.

1980: der RECARO „Rallye III“ 1983/84: der RECARO Sitz „LS“ 1989: der RECARO „A8“

RECARO Storefinder
Find a Dealer Near you

You can quickly and conveniently find the right dealer here. Please enter the zip code or the name of the desired town/city.

Need more help?
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our products or services. The RECARO service team or your local RECARO partner will be happy to assist you.

THE RECARO STORE FINDER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS SERVICE CENTER