Recaro’s race technology graces some of the most impressive vehicles in the motorsports industry. Recaro seats are featured in some iconic models from trucks to sports cars. But you can also go for the aftermarket upgrade. If you value the driver-car connection, a Recaro upgrade may be exactly what you’re missing.

Recaro car seats are engineered to cultivate the connection between car and driver. In fact, these seats are a worthy upgrade for basically any auto enthusiast. The driving experience is definitely heightened by all the trickle down race technology that goes into the engineering of these special seats.

Recaro is based in Stuttgart, Germany. The car seat company began as a saddler and coach builder. Yet, this was only the beginning. Before long, Recaro gained a global presence in the automotive industry and sets the standard in seat technology for comfort, racing, and commercial seating in a wide range of vehicles.

What cars have Recaro seats?

There are quite a few production cars that have had the privilege of Recaro seats come straight from the factory. Among them are the BMW 2002Tii, the Porsche 911, the Mercedes-AMG SLS, the Shelby Mustang GT350, and the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. Recaro still works with manufacturers today, such as the Ford F-150 Raptor.

If you want a car straight from the factory with Recaro seats installed, you’re typically looking at some high dollar vehicles. However, if you already have a great car you can upgrade the seats to Recaro. So, you can save money by purchasing first a more affordable car. Then, by installing Recaro seats yourself, you can upgrade and improve the vehicle you already have.

How much are Recaro car seats?

Buying a car that already has factory installed Recaro seat technology is typically expensive. So what happens if you already have a favorite car and you want to add Recaro seats? Can you do a DIY installation?

If you decide to go the DIY Recaro route, how much do the seats cost? According to Gear Patrol, the Sportster GT design costs $1,299. If you search the web, however, you will see that Recaro car seats are offered for sale in the price range of about $350 to over $1,500. Still, most will say the upgrade is well worth the extra cash.

It’s also nice to know that, if you do indeed decide to purchase Recaro seats, you can bolt them into your car yourself. This is a DIY project that you can get done if you have the right tools. All you need are some new Recaro seats and a car to put bolt them into.

Is there a new Sportster GT?

This article by Gear Patrol gives us a little overview of the new Sportster GT seats. According to the report, the original Sportster has been on the market since 2006. The more recent model––the Sportster GT––is a new development.

According to Michael Murto, Senior Manager of Engineering at Recaro, the aftermarket Recaro seat takes a long time to develop. In his words, “The original Sportster has been on the market since 2006, but the development process, from ideation to completion was a 24-month process. The Sportster GT was an additional nine months.” It’s no small feat to create these state of the art car seats.

The European company even manufactures child safety seats. Admittedly, I’ve had both my children in one since birth––but they no longer sell them here in the states (go figure). Gear Patrol tells us that the average American spends 300 hours in a car seat every year. Upgrading to a Recaro can make those hours more engaging and more comfortable.