From Fiberglass to Carbon Kevlar – Upholding the NSX-R Bucket Seats

The iconic bucket seats in the 1992 NSX-R, 1997 NSX Type S, and 2002 second-generation NSX-R almost took a different path. Recaro initially proposed using fiberglass, a common material in automotive applications due to its low cost, for the seat shells. However, Honda’s NSX development team had higher ambitions. They rejected the idea outright, recognizing that fiberglass would be too heavy to meet the NSX’s uncompromising performance goals.

Recaro responded with an extraordinary alternative: carbon aramid composite. Aramid fibers, known for being lightweight and incredibly strong material, were typically reserved for racing cars, not production vehicles. This advanced composite material, especially the high-performance Kevlar variant, was a breakthrough in automotive seat design. Even Recaro doubted the proposal would be accepted due to its high cost and complexity; however, Honda surprised them by saying “yes.” This bold decision made the seats lighter, stronger, and set a new benchmark for innovation in mass-produced sports cars.

This same dedication and commitment to excellence is what drives MITA Motorsports NSX Type R Style Sports Seats. Like Honda, we refused to compromise with fiberglass. Instead, we meticulously crafted our shells using five layers of carbon fiber. A final layer of dry carbon Kevlar, one of the most well-known types of aramid, is included for added strength and the signature weave. Every detail of our seats reflects Honda’s groundbreaking vision, down to the ergonomic design and authentic NSX-R fabrics.

The NSX-R’s bucket seats embody a refusal to settle for “good enough,” a mindset we apply to every project. Fiberglass might have been easier and cheaper, but just as Honda proved decades ago, true performance demands innovation. It’s evident in our products today that innovation is core to our work and everything we create to achieve true performance.