Carmakers forced to add wider seats for America’s spreading waistline

Posted Mon Jan 21 2008 9:23 AM by Ralph Hanson

Americans - unlike their cars - are getting wider every year. Unfortunately, carmakers aren’t keeping up with the nation’s spreading waistline, especially when it comes to their seats, and passengers are starting to feel the pinch. That’s why at this year’s Detroit Auto Show carmakers were showing concepts fitted with seats that are more like chairs rather than the sports-buckets, which dominate most production cars today.

A recent survey comparing the seat widths of several used cars with those of vehicles on display in Detroit revealed that much hasn't changed over the past decade, reports The Detroit News. Seat widths and the thickness of their padding remains much the same now as it was back in 1999, averaging around 20in in width.

Most carmakers today design seats with outside suppliers, one of the largest of which is Johnson Controls, which has a laboratory dedicated to the study of the human form. One of the most recent innovations developed by the lab is a new foam, which is thinner than previous designs, but provides more support. The seats are "designed both to be more forgiving and comfortable for the larger occupant," a spokesman explained.

This is all well and good for mainstream models but if you’re in the market for an exotic and your body isn’t in the best shape it could be, you’d better be prepared for a tight squeeze. Most of the cars from makes such as Lamborghini, Maserati and Ferrari do offer varying seats sizes. Unfortunately, the largest of these stretches just 18in across.

Reader Comments

Mon Jan 21 2008 10:58 AM
HECTOR says

NOW it makes sense! I've been looking, not too deeply really, at car seats lately and I've seen a lot of them lacking lateral support. Is that because they're being designed for people like my sisters? What about someone like me with a normal size ass that is moving all over the place in curves because there's not enough support?
Mon Jan 21 2008 12:30 PM
chris says

hector; I'm with you. It's a damned shame. the old gen focus (my 2005 hatch) had about 4 inches of lateral support... which may have contributed to my driving it like a go cart. also, the cloth wasnt exactly slick. in my 2008 focus, the seats have become flatter and the leather doesnt help the situation.

This is a big reason why i'm looking at getting the new fiesta for my next car. I miss the feeling of being hugged by your car.

airlines are charging double fares for people over a certain weight. why cant car companies keep the same philosophy. don't make my little cars less fun. if some one has an ass the size of texas; make them buy a truck or a big car. maybe if you force them to buy more expensive cars, they may have less money to put towards food.

normally i don't blame larger people for being fat; but they sure as hell wouldnt be that way if we were still roaming the savanna in africa.
Mon Jan 21 2008 4:11 PM
SuperSkyline89 says

normally i donâ€™t blame larger people for being fat; but they sure as hell wouldnt be that way if we were still roaming the savanna in africa.

Hey, no ones forcing them to eat like hell. Just cause there's a McDonald's on every corner doesn't mean you have to eat there. As far as I'm concerned, if your fat it's your fault for eating so much bad food. Either way, the car companies should still offer different types of seats to let them fit. After all, the customer's always right.
Tue Jan 22 2008 8:40 AM
Tiaan Nel says

Pathetic !!

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