Porsche has revealed its new seat (concept) where the central section of the seat, meaning the seat and backrest cushions, is partly produced by 3D-printing technology. Customers will be able to choose between three firmness levels (hard, medium, soft) for the comfort layer in the future.
Coloring of the 3D-printed visible components of the comfort layer
The seat is the interface between the human and the vehicle, and is thus important for precise, sporty handling. That’s why personalized seat shells customized for the driver have been standard in race cars for a long time now. With the ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’, we’re once again giving series-production customers the opportunity to experience technology carried over from motorsports. – Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche
In addition to an ergonomic fit similar to that found in motorsports, this seat is also claimed to deliver a unique design, lower weight, improved comfort and passive climate control.
A distinctive design thanks to red visible components in a 3D lattice structure and Racetex cover
The ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’ is based on Porsche’s lightweight full-bucket seat and features a sandwich construction: a base support made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) is bonded to a breathable comfort layer consisting of a mixture of polyurethane-based materials made using additive manufacturing – a 3D-printer.
The outer skin of the concept seat is made from ‘Racetex’ and features a specific perforation pattern for climate control.
Close-up of the 3D lattice structure
The ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seat’ will be available from Porsche Tequipment as a driver’s seat for the 911 and 718 ranges from as early as May 2020. The range will initially be limited to 40 seat prototypes for use on race tracks in Europe in combination with a six-point seat belt, Porsche said. Feedback from customers will be incorporated into the development process. As a next step, street-legal ‘3D-printed bodyform full-bucket seats’ in three different firmness levels and colors will be available ex-works from the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur from mid-2021.
In the long term, the technology will also enable fully personalized solutions if sufficient customers express an interest in this. In addition to an extended range of colors, seats adapted to the individual customer’s specific body contour will then also be developed and offered.
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