Having been in this craft for 14 years, I’ve upholstered my fair share of seat covers. In fact, it’s very rare that I come across one that I can’t reverse engineer in a matter of minutes.
A few glances here, a few there, and I can pretty much tell you everything there is to know – from the thickness of its sew foam to where the listings go; and, most importantly, the order in which its panels must be sewn together.
However, the seats in the new Acura NSX Concept are like nothing I’ve seen before. They really do have me mesmerized.
After a bit of head scratching, I’ve figured out how Acura was able to cloak its concave base and backrest bolsters in leather without forming a single wrinkle or air pocket. The trick lies in a clever use of glue and strategically placed seams. (Hint: those thin, black panels do a lot more than just add styling to the mix.)
Still, I’d like to take a closer look at the seats’ split headrest and base. The French seam on the base’s insert panel – which remains continuous, but separates to the left and right of its split – also beckons for further examination.
I’m definitely impressed and can’t wait to see these seats in person. Photos are nice, but they can only take you so far.
Hats off to Acura for designing such a complicated seat that’s so easy on the eyes.
What do you think? Let’s have a round-table discussion. Share your thoughts on the Acura NSX Concept’s seats in the comments section below.
i like it, id say that this interior does what chevy thought they were doing with the corvette when they said it would “honor our craft”
I completely agree. I think that this is the type of interior that people were expecting to see in the new Corvette Stingray when Chevy said that it was going to “honor” our craft.
Given the price point, I don’t know how realistic that expectation was. But the point still stands, this interior is one that we can say with confidence does our craft justice.
I agree 100%
Yup. Exactly what I was thinking.
I’m sure it’s a trick of the pictures, but they look asymmetrical, which throws me some. As does the split front. But, wow, the headrest is great! I also love the contrasted materials, and the black accent trim. Very nice overall.
It’s so nice to see a completely red interior. I miss the days when manufacturers would make blue, green, red, and white interiors. I’m so sick of black, beige, and grey.
It’s a really nice job and looks great. A few of us may get the chance to recover some one day. Only thing is it was all designed, patterned and cut, with machines. The only thing people did was sew it together and install it. Don’t get me wrong I love technology and machines but they are taking the skill out of the equation. The skill will come when they have to be redone without the aid of the computers and cad cut machines.
Just my opinion.
First,IMHO the design has been inspired in the human body…hands upwards in a Budha position.On the other hand, I agree with you Naseem…some kind of listings have to do a lot to keep in place the material…the long inserts are not so wide to help giving the desired concave shape…the leather parts were prepared and completely ‘spray-glued’ to the foamy backing(1/4″ thick) on a concave wood-base mold…if we do it flat the ‘wrinkles’ surely will appear when fitting the cover. Some glue is also used to attach the covers better and give the concave shape. A tip : cut a small piece of foam 4″x 6″ and 1/2″thick…cut a piece of leather same size…apply glue both surfaces and wait to be ready…place the foam on a concave base that it could be done cutting a thick 3″foam or piece of wood…now, gently attach and stick the leather piece onto the foam surface, ironing it with your hands…the finished piece will have the desired shape with no wrinkles.
By the way, I think that the sports Accura design is original and nice…but not so complicated as it seems (only an opinion)
Looks very smart, thumbs up from me.
Stitch-The seat would of been trimmed/patterned by hand originally then once there happy with the look thay can scan the patterns into the machine for the production run.
i understand what stitch was sayin but lets be honest, if it were fesible and affordable to have one of those machines, who here wouldnt use one? i know i would
I agree, if i had the space and money i’d do it!
You guys may want to check out this article we wrote last year about a CAD based software program called Seat Design Environment by Vistagy.
The program allows engineers to create 3D seat models and generate 2D flat patterns for seat covers without ever having to touch a car seat. The software is so advanced that it automatically adds seam allowances, notches for panel alignment and displays adjoining flat patterns in an exploded view. SDE even digitally simulates how a seat cover will fit to identify potential issues, such as wrinkles, early in the design process, eliminating the need for multiple prototypes.
Pretty crazy stuff!
https://www.thehogring.com/2012/01/22/the-software-thats-revolutionizing-auto-trim/
It may give the base Naseem, but Like paint work, a machine can paint a car but the detail is done by eye.
i know a trimmer that does the pattern work for Lear, next time he’s around i’ll ask him about it.
I agree. If I had to choose between a trimmer experienced in pattern making versus this software, I’d definitely choose the trimmer. I just think that this software interesting and I’d love to play around with it.
Pretty interesting information! I’m an upholsterer still in the past…anyways I think that car trimmers will never be replaced for the computers and its softwares. It only applies for car manufactureres to some extent, because they need to hurry up the line of production. A car trimmer has the opportunity of creating a variety of designs by his own and for the liking of the customers who are going to pay for a nice artisan job…think is going to last for a long way.
(lol don’t believe what I say it’s only an opinion)