Porsche Will Offer 3D-Printed Seats in Several Models
Genevieve Fraser
· 3 min read
The use of 3D printing in car parts is expanding, and more manufacturers are finding uses for the technology in their cars. Now, one of the top names in
luxury cars
has introduced a new feat of 3D printing in their vehicles. According to
Autoblog
, Porsche will introduce 3D printing for seats in some new vehicles. This will be an optional feature and takes inspiration from Porsche racing vehicles.
How Porsche introduced the 3D-printed seats
The idea behind the new 3D-printed seats was to create bucket seats similar to those seen in Porsche race cars. Last year, Porsche announced that they were testing the technology for a three-layered seat.
The functionality of the new seats was tested last year with Porsche race team drivers in Europe. It seems as though the seats passed their evaluations, as they were then showcased at the Munich Motor Show. The 3D-printed seats were featured in Porsche's Mission R concept electric race car.
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What sets the 3D-printed seats apart?
The bottom layer of the three-layer seats is crafted from the polypropylene seen in baby car seats and airplane seats. Above this is the middle layer known as the comfort layer, which is 3D-printed to be varying degrees of firmness (hard, medium, or soft) and made of polyurethane-based materials, according to Autoblog. Finally, at the top, there is a layer made of a material known as Racetex.
The Racetex layer is perforated and aids in climate control, and the seats as a whole are lighter than standard road-ready Porsche bucket seats.
According to Porsche, there is another perk to the 3D printing process: the seats are more environmentally friendly because they aren’t bonded with adhesive. Rather, Porsche has clipped them together.
When Porsche drivers can access the new seats
MORE: The Porsche Taycan Has a Long Waitlist
Now that the seats have been approved, some Porsche drivers can now add them to their cars through the Porsche Tequipment Performance Parts catalog. Certain models of the Cayman, Boxster, and the signature Porsche 911 are eligible, according to Autoblog. Some models can only accommodate 3D-printed driver’s seats while others can be fitted with 3D-printed passenger seats, too.
Porsche drivers who are interested in these new 3D-printed bucket seats can start ordering them standard in February 2022. Right now, the price of the seats for American owners is unknown. In Germany, though, the seats will cost $3,106, so it seems likely that buyers in the U.S. can expect to pay something similar.
The 3D-printed seats are installed at Porsche dealerships, and the process is quite fast.
While the seats are designed to be functional, they are also intended to be stylish as well. Because of this, there are different options for the colors of latticework for the 3D-printed seats. Buyers can choose between Black, Yellow, and Guards Red right now, and three more colors (Arctic Grey, Ultramarine, and Shark Blue) will be added for February 2022.
3D printing is taking off in the automotive industry, and the success of Porsche’s seats could contribute to the future widespread adoption of this tech-forward practice. While 3D-printed cars may not be the norm right now, advanced technology in buying car insurance is already at your fingertips.
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