New Lotus-specific Carbon Fiber Seats

[Smitty]

Hi Folks,

At long last, here is a seat designed specifically for the 111 chassis by Tillett Racing Seats in Kent, England. Tillett's B5 model utilizes the available space in the car and is not lifted from a different application like other seats offered.

Here's Tillett's description of the seat:

The new rigid Carbon/GRP B5 seat weighs from 5.7 to 6.7 kg and has been designed especially to suit the Lotus Elise / Exige.

The seat angle is a regular saloon car angle. The small narrow size of the B5 means that many other vehicle applications are possible with this seat.

The B5 sits the driver very low in the car which reduces the likelihood of hitting the crash helmet on the roll cage. This benefits the taller driver who may have problems in other seats and also helps lower the centre of gravity. The side profile developed from years of manufacturing kart racing seats gives excellent support and leaves the shoulders free to help steer the car unhindered. Although the seat is small it can fit a surprisingly large range of driver sizes and the seat has been designed to be compatible with the Hans device.

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/B5_Front.jpg>

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/B5_Side.jpg>

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/B5_Dimensions.jpg>

Two fit without issue:

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/Two_B5_in_Elise.jpg>

Example of the side support compared to standard Exige seat:

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/Exige_Side.jpg>

I've driven approximately 5,000 miles with the seat and have not been happier. I found the standard Elise and Exige seats both terribly uncomfortable and not tailored to accommodate someone of my size. I'm 6'2" and 230 pounds with wide hips. The standard seats would pinch my hip bones and I could only tolerate them for about 90 minutes. The B5 is cut down in that area, eliminating the pinch points. I was able to drive 15 of 28 hours last month and felt fine afterward.

In fact, I've been so pleased with the B5 that I've started a small business importing Tillett's full line of automobile seats.

There are three bracket options for the B5:

EB1 - Adjustable application for harnesses only:

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/EB1.jpg>

EB2 - Driver's seat mount to factory sliders and utilizing the factory belts:

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/EB2.jpg>

EB3: Passenger seat mount utilizing factory belts:

<img src=http://smitty.corsalogistics.net/Lotus_Talk/EB3.jpg>

As of today, I have padded B5s in stock as well as EB1 brackets. The EB2 and EB3 brackets are on their way and should be here next week.

<B>EDIT: The EB2 and EB3 brackets have arrived.</b>

Each B5 seat is $925 and your choice of bracket is $150, excluding shipping. Please send me a PM or email (smindustries@gmail.com) for a shipping quote. I use FedEx Ground unless you require expedited delivery. Local pickup in Northern Virginia is available.

I accept PayPal and wire transfers with no additional fees as well as checks.

[xeeeejme]

Do you happen to have the weights of the stock seats handy? Cloth & leather would be useful for most.

Thanks.

[Tracktimeplz]

~1150 shipped sounds like a pretty good deal!

[RoadDad]

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by xeeeejme

Do you happen to have the weights of the stock seats handy? Cloth & leather would be useful for most.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, that's the one bit of data that I do not have. I plan to pull the stock Exige seat from my car over the holiday weekend and weigh it. I no longer have an Elise, so I cannot weigh that seat.

Originally Posted by Tracktimeplz

~1150 shipped sounds like a pretty good deal!

Thanks, I agree. The B5 is a fantastic seat and a tremendous value relative to others on the market.

[slaughtr]

That is an awesome deal. I think I've finally found my seat.

Do you have any idea if the seats are compatable with the DownLow seat rail I have installed to lower the height? I did keep my stock rail, but would like the seat as low as possible.

Also, do all the seats come with the fabric insert? It looks like some of your pictures may not have them. What is the material used?

Thanks!

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by slaughtr

That is an awesome deal. I think I've finally found my seat.

Do you have any idea if the seats are compatable with the DownLow seat rail I have installed to lower the height? I did keep my stock rail, but would like the seat as low as possible.

Also, do all the seats come with the fabric insert? It looks like some of your pictures may not have them. What is the material used?

Thanks!

I do not know if the seats are compatible with the DownLow rail, however it sits low enough that there are only a couple of millimeters between the seat bottom and the top of the carpet.

I can order the seats without inserts. I had a few but sold them last week. The material is Dinamica, which is the trade name for a synthetic suede that is easy to clean with a damp towel and does not stain when perspiration is introduced through the occupant's clothing. In fact, I got rear-ended last week and spilled a cup of espresso over me and the seat and I took a paper napkin saturated with water and it came right off the seat. The same cannot be said for the pants I was wearing that day.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I do not know if the seats are compatible with the DownLow rail, however it sits low enough that there are only a couple of millimeters between the seat bottom and the top of the carpet.

I can order the seats without inserts. I had a few but sold them last week. The material is Dinamica, which is the trade name for a synthetic suede that is easy to clean with a damp towel and does not stain when perspiration is introduced through the occupant's clothing. In fact, I got rear-ended last week and spilled a cup of espresso over me and the seat and I took a paper napkin saturated with water and it came right off the seat. The same cannot be said for the pants I was wearing that day.

Cool.

Looks great. I'll check with the boss.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by xeeeejme

Do you happen to have the weights of the stock seats handy? Cloth & leather would be useful for most.

Thanks.

The stock Exige seats are just short of 16lbs, so these would be close as I see it (depending on the mounting hardware differences). Very sharp looking and great price!

[tandemracer]

I just told my wife I was finished buying things for the car.

I guess I was wrong.

[Noen]

How much lower is this than the stock seat?

I've been on the hunt for a replacement seat that can be config'd to get me an extra 1.5-2" of headroom for the track

[apk919]

Looks promising... I'd like a seat that I can swap with my stock seat for track days without a lot of hassle... (i.e. 1 hour or less swap time).

[CountTracula]

I love the way it looks but it does not seem like it would provide a lot of lateral support which is my main complain about the stock seat.

[dstevens]

The stock Elise seats are 23.5 lbs (driver) and 20.9 lbs (passenger).

[CK_lotus]

One of these days.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Dave

The stock Exige seats are just short of 16lbs, so these would be close as I see it (depending on the mounting hardware differences). Very sharp looking and great price!

Originally Posted by dstevens

The stock Elise seats are 23.5 lbs (driver) and 20.9 lbs (passenger).

Thank you for the information, gentlemen.

Originally Posted by Noen

How much lower is this than the stock seat?

I've been on the hunt for a replacement seat that can be config'd to get me an extra 1.5-2" of headroom for the track

That's dependent upon your frame. The seat can be adjusted numerous ways using the brackets. The seat can be parked on the floor at the lowest setting front and rear or can be at the lowest in the rear and highest at the front, allowing the seat to be tilted to the rear bulkhead. If the seat is tilted to the rear, the seat must be slid forward to provide room to recline. This results in taller drivers having their legs bent more and their knees end up at the steering column. That's also a factor to consider with the DownLow rails. They're lower, but they also gain headroom by reclining the seat.

That said, I'm 6'2" with a 32" inseam and can fit in the car comfortably with a helmet on without reclining the seat. If you're taller or have longer torso, you would have to recline it.

Originally Posted by apk919

Looks promising... I'd like a seat that I can swap with my stock seat for track days without a lot of hassle... (i.e. 1 hour or less swap time).

Heh, I've swapped the seats out so many times that I can do it in ~10 minutes. My three year-old that has spent the last six months watching me could probably do it in 15.

Originally Posted by CountTracula

I love the way it looks but it does not seem like it would provide a lot of lateral support which is my main complain about the stock seat.

I'm not sure what aspect you're looking at. The lap belts secure the driver's hips and shoulder belts support the shoulders. The factory seats offer no support for the torso whatsoever whereas the Tilletts do an excellent job of it.

Until I drove with them, I had no idea what I was missing. That support combined with the rigidity of the seats over the flexible plastic stock seats offer a much-improved driving experience, as there is no sliding to and fro in corners and the driver isn't using their arms on the wheel to help hold themselves in position while also steering. A few local guys have driven the car with the Tilletts. Perhaps they'll chime in and confirm my interpretation of driving with them.

[FLuXeXigeS]

subscribed...thanx

[plastique999]

Originally Posted by FLuXeXigeS

subscribed...thanx

Coi, get this seat!.

I remember wanting this seat, but wasn't available at the time, so I dumped the $ into the Rev. XC....I'm thinking of getting this for my passenger seat...

[peck555]

Hmmmm

[shay2nak]

wow, very nice. Only thing I would have liked is the bottom portion were more of a bucket...higher sides would have been nice. Doesn't look like it will hold you in place well during cornering.