The History Of High-Performance Cadillac Seats And Recaro

Beyond the obvious things like suspension tuning, power delivery, as well as technology and safety features, there are several other critical elements to luxury cars that sometimes get overlooked, one of which is seating. Indeed, having the right seats is absolutely critical – they are, after all, the single biggest passenger contact point in a car. But finding the right seats is no simple matter, especially when the car in question must ride that fine line between comfort and speed, a balance that Cadillac looks to strike quite frequently. As such, when it comes to finding stylish, luxurious, and supportive Cadillac seats, the answer is often Recaro.

For those who aren’t intricately familiar, Recaro is a German company that develops and manufactures seats for a long list of applications, from aircraft, to gaming chairs, to military vehicles, and yes, automobiles as well. Recaro offers products for OEMs like Cadillac, as well as the aftermarket, and motorsports (racing).

Through the years, Recaro has provided Cadillac seats for a number of different models, such as the second- and third-generation CTS-V, plus the first-generation ATS-V.

In pursuit of that perfect balance between comfort, support and style, Recaro-made Cadillac seats have offered a number of different features. For example, the 2016 ATS-V was offered with optional Recaro sitters with 16-way adjustability, along with adjustable side bolsters.

Adjustability is a critical component of these chairs. People come in all different shapes and sizes, and getting the right lateral support for aggressive, sporty driving shouldn’t come at the expense of long-range comfort.

Materials are also important, given the need for something that’s soft and supple, but not overly slippery, while also being durable. In the case of the 2016 ATS-V, the answer is Mulan leather with sueded microfiber inserts and seatbacks.

The third element of the formula for superior seats in performance-oriented luxury cars is design, and the Recaros in Cadillac models do not disappoint. Thanks to a tasteful design that’s as eye-catching as it is unique, the chairs are some of the best-looking car seats we’ve ever seen. 

Of course, not everyone cares about having gobs of lateral support, which makes sense given that it’s only a necessity when pushing the car’s performance envelope. As such, Recaro Cadillac seats are typically optional equipment, as opposed to being standard. 

Cadillac is adamant in offering performance models in perpetuity, so it’s likely we’ll see Recaro step in for its sporty seat expertise well into the future, such as on the upcoming CT5-V Blackwing and CT4-V Blackwing models. And considering what we’ve seen from Cadillac-duty Recaros in the past, that’s a good thing. A very good thing.

Historic Availability

Recaro supplied Cadillac seats in the following vehicles:

• Second-generation Cadillac CTS-V family and certain CTS models with specific packages
• Third-generation Cadillac CTS-V Sedan
• First-generation Cadillac ATS-V Sedan and ATS-V Coupe

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