Start from how
the car is used
In stock and
ready to ship
Grouped by model, because the model decides the specification and the certification. Side and upholstery are the variables inside each group.
Sportster CS
Model detailRacing-shell geometry on a seat that still reclines. Released for 3- and 4-point belts in street use.
Cross Sportster CS
Model detailThe Sportster CS shell with a flatter cushion. That flatter cushion is what makes entry and exit work in a high vehicle.
Expert
Model detailBuilt as a kit. Cushion sizes S, M and L change the seating length and the bolster contour; backrest bolsters adjust as standard.
Pole Position (ABE)
Model detailA one-piece racing shell released for the public road. ABE/TUV certification with a 3-point belt, valid in combination with the RECARO baseframe and adapter.
Pole Position N.G. (FIA)
Model detailGlass fibre competition shell homologated to FIA 8855-1999 for five years. Cushions and upholstery materials can be specified.
Podium CF
Model detailCarbon shell with an ABE road approval, so it can be retrofitted to a registered car. Pad thickness adapts the shell to the driver.
Six shells,
side by side
Every figure below comes from the RECARO documentation for that model. Switch a model off to narrow the table.
| Specification | Sportster CSStreet | Cross Sportster CSSUV and off-road | ExpertLong distance | Pole Position (ABE)Street and track | Pole Position N.G. (FIA)Racing | Podium CFStreet and track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | from $2,450 | from $2,450 | from $2,030 | from $1,670 | from $1,670 | from $4,790 |
| Construction | Reclining sport seat | Reclining sport seat, high entry | Reclining comfort seat, modular | Fixed-back racing shell, street legal | Competition shell, FIA 8855-1999 | Carbon shell, ABE street legal |
| Best for | Street | SUV and off-road | Long distance | Street and track | Racing | Street and track |
| Road registration (ABE/TÜV) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| FIA 8855-1999 | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| HANS compatible | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Street belt 3/4-point | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Race harness 4/5/6-point | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Backrest reclines | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Seat height | 34.8 in | 34.8 in | min. 31.5 / max. 33.7 in | 34.6 in | 34.6 in | 34.6 in |
| Seat width | 12.4 in | 12.2 in | 12.2 in | 15.4 in | 15.0 in | 14.1 in (M) / 14.9 in (L) |
| Seat depth | 19.3 in | 19.7 in | 18.7 in | 19.5 in | 19.3 in | 17.2 in |
| Weight | approx. 33.1 lb, tolerance 1.1 lb | Not stated by RECARO | Not stated by RECARO | Pole Position (ABE) approx. 15.4 lb; Pole Position Carbon (ABE) approx. 9.9 lb | approx. 17.0 lb | Podium M, shell total weight approx. 15.7 lb; Podium L, shell total weight approx. 15.2 lb; Net weight of the shell approx. 10.8 lb |
| Order |
What the approvals
actually cover
Five marks appear across this range. They decide whether a seat can be registered on a road car, entered in a race series, or run with a HANS device. The seat page lists the marks that apply to that model.
What allows a seat to be registered on a road car. It applies in combination with the RECARO baseframe and adapter for the specific vehicle, so coverage is checked per car, not per seat.
Approval runs for five years from the date stamped on the shell. Race series check that date at scrutineering, so the remaining term matters at purchase.
Applies to the upholstery on the competition shells. Listed for the Pole Position N.G. (FIA).
Shell geometry works with a HANS device. Relevant for competition use with 5- and 6-point harnesses. Listed for the Podium CF.
The seat is
half the order
A RECARO seat mounts to a vehicle-specific baseframe and adapter. Both are separate parts, and the ABE/TÜV component certification applies in combination with them, which is what makes the installation road legal. Ordering a seat without the matching baseframe leaves the car unregistrable.
- Baseframe and adapter are chosen by vehicle, not by seat
- Certification is valid in combination with the RECARO baseframe and adapter
- Sidemounts, harness and pad kits are separate parts on the competition shells
- Replacing a factory seat affects the seat-mounted airbag where the car has one
Before you order
Do I need a baseframe and an adapter?
Yes, on every model. The seat mounts to a vehicle-specific baseframe and adapter, which are ordered separately. The ABE/TÜV certification applies in combination with the RECARO baseframe and adapter, so the pairing is also what makes the seat road legal.
Left, right or universal?
The Sportster CS, Cross Sportster CS and Podium CF are supplied as a left or a right seat. The Expert, Pole Position (ABE) and Pole Position N.G. (FIA) are symmetrical and carry no side in the part number.
Which seats can be registered on a road car?
Everything with an ABE/TÜV component certification: Sportster CS, Cross Sportster CS, Expert, Pole Position (ABE) and Podium CF. The Pole Position N.G. (FIA) is a competition shell for racing use.
How does the FIA five-year term work?
FIA 8855-1999 approval is valid for five years from the homologation date on the shell label. After that the shell can still be used on the road where it holds an ABE, but not in a series that requires a current homologation.
What is not included with the seat?
Baseframe, adapter, sidemounts, harness and pad kits are separate parts. The Pole Position (ABE) lists an aluminium adapter at 2.4 lb and a steel adapter at 5.7 lb; the Podium CF lists an FIA adapter at 5.7 lb and three pad kits.