The Sparco SPX, and the reason it costs what it does is the shell. Part number SPA00974ZNR.
Sparco built the SPX as the first carbon fibre reclining seat sold to the public to the same specification they supply to car manufacturers, and it is made in Italy using the materials that go into OEM supercar seats. The backrest is carbon, the lower section is composite, and the two together give you a shell that is shaped rather than padded into shape. It comes in at around 12kg.
Trim is Italian leather, perforated in the panels that need to breathe and smooth where it does not, with an Alcantara suede centre. Alcantara is there to grip, not for looks. On a smooth leather seat you slide, and a reclining seat has no bolsters deep enough to stop you.
What it is and is not
It is a Road and Track seat with no FIA homologation, so it is not a competition shell. It reclines, takes the standard seatbelt or a four point harness, and has no head support wings. If you need approval for scrutineering, this is the wrong seat and an Evo QRT is the right one.
Ordering
The SPX is handed. Choose RHD driver side or RHD passenger side at the top of the page, and order twice if you want the pair.
Base mount on the 345mm by 271mm pattern, supplied as the seat only. Each side needs a vehicle specific sub-frame. Tell us the car and we will match them.
Have you written anything about this exact product?
Yes, we have covered this exact product: The Definitive Guide To The Sparco SPX Carbon Reclining Seat, and How Do I Fit The Sparco SPX Into My VW Golf MK7. That is first-hand coverage from our own builds and showroom, not brochure copy.
Will I fit in this seat?
The maker sizes this seat for drivers with a 36in to 38in or 32in to 36in waist. Those are the paper numbers; how a seat actually feels to sit in and climb out of is a different question, and our showroom team sit in these seats every day, so call us with your height and waist and we will give you the honest answer.
What do I need to fit it to my car?
You need the car-specific frame for your vehicle, plus a sliding runner for fore-and-aft adjustment. Tell us your car and we will quote the complete fitting kit in one go. Our sliding runner guide covers the adjustment side.
Does it recline like a normal seat, and what about armrests?
Yes, the backrest reclines, which is the whole point of a sport recliner over a fixed bucket: support in the corners, comfort on the motorway, and access to rear seats. Armrests: not fitted on this model. Our recliner lineup comparison shows how the ranges stack up.
I am a bigger driver. Will it work for me?
Possibly, and it depends on the exact shell rather than the brand. We wrote a straight-talking guide on sport recliners for larger drivers from real showroom fittings, and if you send us your waist and height we will tell you honestly which recliners work at your size.
