RECARO Automotive North America, Inc. Races Visitors into the Future at CES 2024

The company showcases the latest in performance, sustainability, and fully immersive technology.

Detroit, Michigan, January 8, 2023 – RECARO Automotive North America, Inc., the premium seat manufacturer, announces key new seating developments at CES 2024. As the market leader in premium automotive seating, RECARO Automotive will immerse CES visitors in an ultra-sensory experience showcasing the wide breadth of its innovative technology and capabilities.

“RECARO Automotive has a 60-year history of being the first in our industry with new product innovations,” said Emil Kreycik, President and COO “Our team has driven forward tirelessly, pushing the boundaries of automotive seating technology and innovation.”

“Not only will visitors see firsthand the new Pro Supreme GT FPR ahead of the Ford Mustang’s return to global GT3 racing, they will experience the rich tactile responses available in our latest SIM seat, and, for the purists, see how RECARO Automotive has developed a seat structure with cross-functional purposes, answering our OEM partners desires for a seating platform that can work across vehicle lines.” 

“CES is the playground in which the world’s most influential companies reveal their most exciting work,” said Nicole McElroy, Global Vice President of Product Development and Brand. “We couldn’t imagine unveiling our incredible new products and technologies anywhere else.  With an anticipated attendance of 130,000 and over 3500 exhibitors, CES is an ideal platform from which we can reach our loyal RECARO Automotive fans, new and old.”

RECARO Pro Supreme GT FPR

In one of 2024’s most eagerly anticipated motorsports stories, Ford Performance Racing returns to global competition with the Ford Mustang GT3, based on the all-new Mustang Dark Horse performance model. RECARO plays a key role as Ford rejoins sports-car grids from Daytona to Le Mans.

RECARO Automotive and Ford Performance Racing teamed up to deliver innovative seating technology focused on shaving seconds off where it counts – driver changes. On display at CES 2024, the RECARO Pro Supreme GT FPR combines low weight, maximum safety, and individual comfort—all developed exclusively for the new Ford Mustang GT3.

This is just the latest chapter in RECARO Automotive’s decades-long partnership with Ford Performance across road and race cars to elevate the driving experience, whether on a driver’s favorite back roads or on the world’s most renowned and challenging racing circuits.

The Pro Supreme GT FPR features interchangeable pads in three sizes and tiered attachment-point side mounts to provide maximum individual fitting flexibility. The result? Seamless vehicle entry and exit for a variety of body types with little adaptation required. This is a game-changer for professional racers, track-day warriors, and anyone whose motorsport involvement requires fast, efficient driver changes and legendary, proven safety.

The RECARO Pro Supreme GT FPR is FIA-certified and homologated for use in GT and Touring classes across a variety of motorsport series. Key features include:

• FIA certified and crash tested, for 10 year’s use in FIA-sanctioned races
• Side-impact neck protection, developed and optimized to work with head and neck safety systems
• RECARO proprietary ergonomics: S-shaped backrest with “built-in” lumbar support that protects against spinal compression in high-impact accidents
• RECARO high-integrity, lightweight, Carbon-Kevlar® comfort shell
• Aggressive thigh & torso bolstering
• High-quality, shock-absorbing foam in a flexible pad system
• Flame-retardant materials used for RECARO flexible pad sets
• Fixed LH Floor Mount & RH Tunnel Mount
• Seat Back Cage Mount
• Active Air Conditioning
• Highly flame-retardant upholstery (ISO 3795 - 75 mm/min)
• Screw-mounted panels and belt slots
• Suitable for 4, 5, or 6-point harness

RECARO Pro SIM Star 24H Le Mans Edition with FeelTech+ Pad kit 

RECARO FeelTech+ ™ powered by Sensit! is the first seating technology to make non-sensitive frequencies perceptible to humans. RECARO FeelTech+ seat insert pads uses Metahaptics, the only system that can transform a full sound spectrum of up to 20.000 Hertz into immersive haptic and touch experiences.

The technology employs 14 actuators in the padding on the seat bottom and seatback to deliver real-world tactile feedback to the player by providing sensations that accurately mimic the nuances of the real-world tracks in various sim franchises, allowing users to experience road feel in the digital environments, adding a thrilling new level of realism to sim sessions.

Visitors to the RECARO booth will experience FeelTech+ through a multi-capable race series Playseat® Sim Chassis outfitted with the RECARO Pro SIM Star 24H Le Mans Edition and powered by William Esports.

Usage Examples:

Esports: By receiving needed information to operate their vehicle to the limits of physics, drivers can improve their performance thanks to haptic feedback Thus, allowing them to make more intuitive decisions during gameplay.

Sim Racing: Allows sim drivers to feel changing surface textures and other features, such as curbing, on racetracks and road circuits for a realistic seat-of-the-pants feel during the racing experience.

Reality: Reduces motion sickness by simulating touch in a way that makes the experience feel more lifelike.

Peripherals: SIM accessories with Metahaptics improve accessibility for all through the elevated tactile experience. Seats that can support FeelTech+ Insert Pad technology:

• RECARO Pro SIM Star
• RECARO Profi SPG/SPG XL
• RECARO Pole Position

RECARO Sport C with haptics

In addition to the Pro SIM Star, RECARO will also display the Sport C with RECARO FeelTech+ seat insert pads technology. 

The Sport C will be front and center and visitors to the booth can take a ride alongside the driver in the PRO SIM Star and feel what that driver is experiencing. Whether the driver veers off the road, hits the curb, or simply runs into an area of rough pavement, occupants of the Sport C will experience the same sensations as the racecar driver aiming to improve their lap time. It’s like jumping in the right seat for a hot lap...without ever having to go to the track.

RECARO RCS Sound Edition

Visionaries in their respective industries, RECARO Automotive and PIONEER Electronics (USA), Inc. have joined forces to design one of the most revolutionary advancements in automotive audio: the fully immersive RECARO RCS Sound Edition seat.

The RCS Sound Edition is equipped with in-seat actuators that, via the vibrations generated, transform the seat itself into a speaker. This unique new technology, working in concert with the vehicle’s front speakers, delivers an immersive, high-fidelity mobile audiophile experience that is unlike anything else on the market.

This unique innovation from Pioneer and RECARO guarantees consistent audio spatial depiction regardless of the occupant’s height or driving posture, meaning it can be fully enjoyed regardless of who is sitting in the seat. The result is an automotive audio experience that makes every road trip feel like you just scored floor seats to see your favorite band or have the best seats in the house at the Philharmonic. 

RECARO Ergo M AM384 Commercial Vehicle Seat 

Demonstrating the breadth of customer segments RECARO Automotive serves, the RECARO Ergo M AM384, designed exclusively for municipal buses and motor coaches, is displayed at CES to showcase how innovative design and thinking create a better experience for drivers and bus fleet operators alike.

The RECARO Ergo M AM384 boasts an exclusive 5th to 95th percent profile for better fit and comfort—a necessity given that drivers of different size and stature are rotating into and out of buses and coaches. It includes all-electric 8-way adjustments that are ergonomically designed and intuitive to use, ensuring optimum body support. These include adjustments to the backrest, fore and aft adjustment, seat height, and seat angle.

Finally, the seat belt webbing on the RECARO Ergo M AM384is woven with Infra-Red reflective yarn, which is not visible at all in natural light, but can be seen on the in-vehicle IR cameras commonly used to monitor drivers in buses and coaches. This allows operators to ensure that their drivers comply with seat-belt usage requirements and helps ensure that the belts are not being worn improperly when they are in use.

RECARO RCP Concept Seat

Continuing the success of the RECARO Sport C modular frame structure, the company advances the technology even further to provide OEMs with even more seating options in new vehicles.

The RECARO RCP (RECARO Comfort Platform) Concept unites two iconic products, the RECARO Sport and RECARO Ideal Comfort seats. Built on the RECARO Sport C seat frame, the Ideal Comfort Concept features a low block height and a seatback frame that can support an adjustable headrest. This backbone’s modularity lets RECARO's OEM partners flex between a Pure Performance (RECARO Sport) integrated-headrest seatback or, for more comfort/touring-oriented applications, the Performance Comfort (RECARO Ideal Comfort) seatback with an adjustable headrest.

Both variants are displayed at the RECARO booth at CES and are equipped with all-electric 8-way adjustment.

RECARO Pole Position RCF Infusion

Introduced in 2023 and available in both the RECARO Profi XL RCF and the RECARO Pole Position RCF, RCF Infusion technology broke the mold in how motorsports can embrace sustainability in an authentic and meaningful way by utilizing recycled carbon fiber.

Each RECARO Recycled Carbon Fiber Infusion shell uses (on average) between 10 and 11% of the dry fiber instead of glass fiber strands. The materials in the shell include braided woven carbon, woven glass, and vinyl ester epoxy resin instead of polyester resin.

As a company known for being first-to-market with seating technology, RECARO’s RCF Infusion works to eliminate some of the waste generated after track weekends by recycling carbon fiber that has been left behind while also increasing the strength and durability of the new racing shell through the manufacturing process.    

CES Panel - The Transformation of Motorsports: How Digitization is Driving Sustainability

RECARO Automotive’s Global Vice President of Product Development and Brand Nicole McElroy will participate in a panel discussion around digitization’s impact on sustainability and how that is helping to propel motorsport’s ongoing transformation.

Date: Tuesday, January 9
Time: 9:00 – 9:40 am
Location: Aria, Level 1, Joshua 8

Moderator:

• Ed Bernardon, Vice President Motorsports Racing Strategy, SIEMENS

Other Panelists:

• Marissa Andretti, Vice President Andretti Global; Managing Director, ATECH    Andretti Global / Andretti Technologies
• Cartier Brown, Co-Founder / CEO, AVICAR
• Rob Gray, Technical Director, Red Bull Advanced Technologies
• Ali Russell, Managing Director, Extreme E

TECHART GTstreet R Flyweight

RECARO fans who visit the company’s CES display will get to see the TECHART GTstreet R Flyweight seat, a thrilling collaboration between RECARO Automotive and renowned German tuning firm, TECHART, which specializes in enhancing Porsche products. The brands began working together in 2023.

The GTstreet R Flyweight, based on the Porsche 911 Turbo S, is equipped with the RECARO Podium CF performance seat as part of its Clubsport interior. Weighing just 4.9 kilograms per seat shell, this seat is ultralight, in keeping with the aggressive weight reduction objectives set for the extremely limited-edition GTstreet R Flyweight program.  

In addition to its power enhancements and weight-reduction, TECHART adds additional artistic elements with hand-painted designs and Flyweight-specific embroidery and embossing.

IMSA Sweepstakes

Racing enthusiasts, start your engines! RECARO Automotive and partner IMSA have a sweepstakes for those who dream of being in the middle of the action at one of the world’s most iconic races – the Rolex 24 at Daytona in Daytona Beach, FL.

Experience the power, drama, and excitement of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the most prestigious motorsports events in North America.  This sought-after experience includes access for 2 (two) including:

• VIP credentials
• Hospitality access throughout the weekend
• IMSA Hot Lap Experience
• Starter Stand visit
• Behind-the-scenes tour of the paddock and hot pits
• Weekend parking.

Visitors to CES can register for the drawing through a QR code by visiting the RECARO Automotive booth in West Hall Booth 3376. The lucky winners will be announced in mid-January.  

Racing Sim Sessions in the RECARO Automotive Booth

Guests will have an opportunity to set their fastest lap times on the RECARO Pro SIM Star seat for a chance to win RECARO merchandise. The RECARO Pro SIM Star is a partnership between Williams eSports and Playseat, one of the world’s leaders in racing simulators.

The first 60 sim sign-ups will receive a die-cast IMSA Lamborghini souvenir model. 

RECARO guests are also invited to come meet race car drivers Donavan Straus  (eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, Williams eSports, BMW, Lexus),two-time Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg, famed e-racer and road racer Bryan Heitkotter, and GRR racing team owner and Trans-Am Series driver Michelle Abate. These legendary drivers will be available for autograph signings.

Bryan Heitkotter: Tuesday, January 9, 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Chris Forsberg: Wednesday, January 10, 10:30 – 11:30 am

Michelle Abbate: Thursday, January 11, 1:00 -2:00 pm

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Download Media Kit Here

About RECARO Automotive:

The world’s leading automotive seating brand, RECARO Automotive, specializes in creating innovation, safety, comfort, and quality in automotive seating. We have 500 employees operating in 3 assembly plants in 3 countries worldwide producing and delivering premium quality automotive products by using the brand RECARO under a license of the RECARO Holding for dynamic, racing, comfort, commercial, and major OEMs. From complete seating systems to individual components, our expertise spans every step of the automotive seat-making process. Our globalized integrated, in-house skills allow us to support our product creation from research and design all the way to engineering and manufacturing while maintaining a global premium brand presence.

To learn more, please visit https://www.recaro-automotive.com/us/recaro

About PIONEER

Pioneer is a leading global manufacturer that has been developing an array of world-first products and services since its inception in 1938 based on its corporate mission of “Move the Heart and Touch the Soul.” Through our core car electronics business, we propose new and unique value by providing products and services that realize comfort, excitement, safety and security in vehicle interiors, utilizing unique and innovative ideas combined with cutting-edge technologies.

For more information visit: www.pioneerelectronics.com.

About Sensit!

Sensit! is a multi-brand Haptics company that provides the simplest solution for creating and scaling haptic experiences on the market. Founded in Potsdam in 2019, Sensit! enhances digital experiences through immersive haptic feedback (simply put: through vibrations) by transforming any telemetry, sound, and interaction data into a tangible experience. On a specially developed and easy-to-use platform, B2B customers will be able to individually design the haptics developed by Sensit! on their own. This turns simple products into haptic experiences.

For more information visit: https.//sensit.tech

About Williams Esports:

Williams is one of the world’s leading Formula 1 teams. It exists purely to race in the top echelon of motor racing, where it has been winning grands prix for more than three decades. The Williams name has been synonymous with top-level motorsport since the 1970s, and has won 16 FIA Formula One World Championship titles – nine for constructors and seven for drivers. It remains the second most successful constructor in F1 history.

Williams Esports was launched in 2018, as the team made its first entry into virtual racing, a burgeoning industry providing both new and existing fans with opportunities to engage in a diverse and accessible arena. The Williams Esports programme has a roster of more than 25 of the world’s elite drivers, competing in 10 racing games across all three platforms, already reaching audiences in the millions and winning multiple titles.

For more information visit: https://www.williamsf1.com/esports

About Playseat®:

We come from a racing background. We know you perform better in SIM racing when you feel like you’re actually in the car. This feeling is what drives us as we create world-class racing cockpits. Our one aim: give you the most realistic racing experience. We’ve been doing it for decades and we’re now setting the new SIM racing standard. We keep pushing boundaries to get better every day. We never stop developing the very best, to help you become the best.

Playseat® has kept reinventing the SIM Racing seat category since 1996. All products are built by, and for, real drivers at the highest standard and are fully patented. The innovative engineering and design used in the development of the professional products is also brought into homes in a more versatile and space friendly manner without losing its immersive nature, making it the go-to racing simulator brand, from beginners to pros. 

For more information visit: https://playseat.com/

About the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)

The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Historic Sportscar Racing, as well as five one-make series: Ferrari Challenge North America, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Mustang Challenge and Porsche Carrera Cup North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For more information please visit www.IMSA.com, www.twitter.com/IMSA, www.facebook.com/IMSA or www.instagram.com/imsa_racing.