Hundreds Of Products Ready Today. Dispatch/Collection The Ever Popular Recaro Speed And Sportster CS
Recaro has earned a legendary reputation in both motorsport and road car circles, and few seats have proven as popular and versatile over the years as the Recaro Speed and Recaro Sportster CS. These two reclining sports seats continue to be among the most requested options at GSM Performance, and for good reason. They each strike a perfect balance between everyday comfort and supportive design, making them ideal for a wide range of vehicles, from hot hatches and fast saloons to kit cars and weekend track builds.
Whether you’re after a retro-inspired seat with OEM fitment or something sharper and more track-focused, these Recaro models cover both ends of the spectrum while sharing a consistent focus on quality, ergonomics, and proven design. In this updated 2026 guide, we’ll explore what sets each seat apart and why both are still strong choices for road and performance use today.
The Recaro Sportster CS Reclining Sports Seat
The Recaro Sportster CS takes things up a level. It’s a more track-oriented seat that bridges the gap between a comfortable road-going recliner and a full motorsport shell. Visually, it features a slim, aggressive profile with deep side bolsters and a one-piece backrest design. The shoulder harness slots are more upright and supportive, making it perfect for use with multi-point harnesses on track days.
Built around a steel base frame with integrated reinforcement and a composite back shell, the Sportster CS is lightweight yet rigid, giving it better feedback and lateral support than traditional reclining seats. You can choose between several trim finishes, including black Nardo fabric or premium leather and Alcantara combinations. It’s also available with optional heating, side airbags, and custom stitching, ideal if you want a factory-style look in a high-performance package.
Key features of the Recaro Sportster CS:
- Steel and composite hybrid shell construction
- Deep side bolsters and upright harness slot layout
- Reclining backrest with OEM integration potential
- Optional features: heating, side airbags, custom trim
- Perfect for fast road and track-focused builds
- Compatible with harnesses and OEM seat belts
- Trim options include Nardo fabric, leather, and Alcantara
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From £1,317.75 Excl. VAT Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
The Recaro Speed Reclining Sports Seat
The Recaro Speed is a classic, road-focused sports seat that has stood the test of time. It features a supportive shape with mid-height side bolsters and Recaro’s iconic dual shoulder harness slots, giving it a distinctive, motorsport-inspired look while keeping its focus on comfort. The seat features a steel frame construction for strength and long-term support, combined with soft, dense foam padding to keep you comfortable over longer journeys.
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From £834.75 Excl. VAT Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Standard trim includes black velour with Recaro branding, but there are various trim upgrade options depending on your supplier. The seat can be ordered in alternative fabric or color options, and some versions have subtle styling tweaks such as contrast stitching or Alcantara inserts. It’s also fully compatible with both OEM-style 3-point belts and aftermarket 4-point harnesses thanks to its integrated shoulder slots.
Key features of the Recaro Speed:
- Steel frame construction for durability
- Reclining backrest for adjustable comfort
- Iconic Recaro dual shoulder harness slots
- Compatible with OEM seatbelt systems
- Suitable for road and light performance use
- Trim options include standard black velour and optional custom finishes
- Ideal for cars with limited cockpit space
Our In-Store Display for 2026
As we head into the 2026 season, our showroom is almost fully stocked with the most in-demand Recaro reclining sports seats, but with one notable exception. We’re still waiting on the return of the Recaro Speed, which remains one of the last models pending reintroduction following the Proma Group’s acquisition of the Recaro brand. Production is scheduled to restart in early 2025, and once availability resumes, we plan to have the Speed back on display in its standard trim options.
In the meantime, we’ve already brought the Recaro Sportster CS back into our showroom, and it’s ready for 2026 viewing and testing. The version we currently have on display features the Ambla leather and Dinamica suede black trim, a popular and premium finish that blends factory-style fitment with motorsport aesthetics. This seat is now in stock and available for immediate purchase, with a matching pair ready for road or track builds.
All our paired listings for Recaro seats reflect live stock levels and showroom availability. If a seat is listed as in stock, that means we physically have it available either for testing in-store or dispatch directly from our display. This makes it easier for customers to plan their visit and get a hands-on experience before making a final decision.
Our Recaro Reclining Seat Range...
The Recaro Speed and Sportster CS form the core of our Recaro Sportline reclining seat collection. This range is built for drivers who want performance-inspired support combined with everyday comfort and premium aesthetics. Both seats reflect Recaro’s commitment to quality, with refined construction, ergonomic shaping, and a broad selection of materials that feel right at home in everything from performance road cars to show builds and custom restorations.
The Recaro Speed has long been regarded as one of the best options in its class, not just for its recognisable shape and comfort, but for the thoughtful materials and design used throughout. From the dense foam cushions to the hard-wearing fabric or velour trims, every detail is designed to last. The Sportster CS steps things up further with a hybrid shell design and a more aggressive, sculpted shape, making it a favourite among performance-focused drivers and premium car owners.
Customers can choose from a wide selection of colours, materials, and stitching options across the Sportline range. One of the most popular trim materials is Ambla leather, a high-grade synthetic leather that offers the look, feel, and durability of genuine leather at a more accessible price point. It’s a practical and stylish choice, especially for those who want that premium finish without the added cost or upkeep of real leather.
Whether you’re after a subtle OEM+ look or a bold interior upgrade, Recaro’s Sportline seats offer a combination of style, support, and quality that’s hard to beat. For drivers who demand the best in comfort and fit, Recaro remains the go-to brand.
Installation Options: Getting Your Recaro Reclining Seats Fitted Correctly
Installing Recaro Speed or Sportster CS reclining seats is a straightforward process when using the correct combination of base-mounted hardware. Like most reclining sports seats, both models are base-mounted only, meaning they don’t require side mounts. Instead, they bolt directly to a set of Recaro double locking sliding runners, which then attach to a vehicle-specific seat sub-frame.
Recaro uses a 405mm wide bolt pattern underneath their reclining seat range, including the Speed and Sportster CS. This is a wider pattern than found on many other seat brands and is specifically designed to line up with Recaro-branded vehicle-specific sub-frames. These sub-frames are designed for direct bolt-in installation and cover a wide variety of popular cars, making them a solid option for most builds.
If a Recaro sub-frame isn’t available for your car, we recommend Planted Technology seat brackets as a strong alternative. Planted brackets also use the 405mm base mount layout, making them fully compatible with Recaro reclining seats and Recaro runners. The Planted range is one of the most extensive on the market and often includes off-the-shelf options for vehicles that fall outside Recaro’s core fitment list.
When installed, the Recaro sliding runners sit between the seat base and your chosen vehicle-specific sub-frame or bracket. This allows for front-to-back adjustment and keeps your seat firmly secured while maintaining everyday functionality. With the right combination of parts, the Recaro Speed and Sportster CS can be installed cleanly into most vehicles with no cutting or fabrication required.
Final Thoughts: Two Proven Choices from Recaro’s Sportline Range
The Recaro Speed and Sportster CS remain two of the most respected reclining sports seats on the market. Each offers a different balance of comfort and performance, making them suitable for everything from daily-driven cars to track-ready builds. The Speed delivers a classic design with soft bolstering and road-focused ergonomics, while the Sportster CS adds a more aggressive feel with deeper support and a slimmer profile.
Both seats use a base-mount design with a 405mm bolt pattern, making them easy to fit with Recaro or Planted Technology frames. We currently have the Sportster CS on display in our showroom, with the Speed expected to return following Recaro’s production updates. If you’re unsure which seat best suits your needs, visiting us in-store is the perfect opportunity to try them for yourself and get a hands-on comparison before committing to your next upgrade.