The trends that currently occur in the design of car seats are the modular unification of parts and the desire to ensure a small weight of the seat; e.g.. the introduction of a magnesium backrest skeleton reduces the total weight of the chair by approx.. 1 kg. Modern, complete, front seat for Renault Megane has a weight of ok. 20 kg.
The latest technologies used in the production of armchairs are, for example,, injection of foaming substance into ready-made elements of upholstery covering. Head restraints are often manufactured in this way – polyurethane foam is poured through the hole in the cover, this eliminates the need for subsequent upholstery work. Depending on the customer's requirements, the seat covers can be sewn, welded or glued, the latter two technologies do not leave traces of joints, often not very aesthetic and contributing to the accumulation of impurities.
Seat tests are designed to check, whether they provide sufficient comfort and whether they are sufficiently durable. The audit covers all possible aspects. Not only their aesthetics and ergonomics are studied, vibration filtering, efficiency and functionality of control devices, but also resistance to temperature and moisture, and even this, what are they to the touch, what smell they have and what sounds they make.
Passenger seats in MPVs are positioned in any way: Front, sideways or rearward facing. So there is a need for seats, which can be freely fixed, but they provide the transported persons with maximum driving safety. Faurecia offers such customers an armchair with an integrated headrest and a seat belt. Its total weight does not exceed 18 kg, of which 11 kg is the weight of the skeleton. There is also a demand for armchairs that provide conditions for exceptionally comfortable rest, e.g.. for substitutes for commercial vehicle drivers, covering long distances. Morphee armchairs, thanks to the clever kinematic arrangement of the seat, Backrest, armrests and footrests allow easy conversion of the seat into a bed, and the headrest with an asymmetrical shape allows the resting person to comfortably position his head; seat belt is integrated into the seat. In the CARE System spinal seats, active head restraints support the head more effectively in the event of a collision (just like the solution called SAHR – Saab Active Head Restraint, used in Swedish Saab cars).
The Modulatte armchair is a proposal for a more distant future – elements are fixed on the tubular skeleton, easily adjustable, which allows them to be adapted to the shape of the body of the driver or passenger. This is a response to the constant demands of manufacturers, to make the seat comfortable, but at the same time it had as little weight as possible.