Lexus Develops Kinetic Seat Concept

Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus unit says its Kinetic Seat Concept adapts to an occupant’s body to improve comfort.   

The seat cushion and back rest are designed to move kinetically with occupant weight and external forces. Likening the system to a human spine, Lexus says the design helps stabilize head movement caused by vehicle motion.

The seat structure features a threaded spider web-pattern that conforms to an occupant’s body shape to better disperse seating load, according to the carmaker. The center of the back rest is at shoulder blade height, which induces rotational movement of the chest around the seat's pivotal axis and helps keep an occupant’s head in place.

The seat also is slimmer and lighter than conventional designs, Lexus says. Some of the threads are made from what the company calls a synthetic spider silk instead of petroleum-derived materials. The main component is protein created through microbial fermentation, which is then spun and processed into a new blend that Lexus says provides superior shock absorbance properties.

The carmaker will unveil the concept next week at the Paris auto show.