The Lotus brand has been built around a concept of creating lightweight vehicles with punchy engines and dynamic handling.
It was Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars who coined the motto ‘Simplify, then add lightness’. Since then their cars have always been defined by their minimalist design, precision engineering and innovating technology.
With a Lotus you get everything you need for a truly driver-centric experience - and nothing you don’t!
Most Lotus cars are formidably capable in stock trim, however that doesn’t stop them being one of the most modified cars on the market.
The reasons are manyfold. Lots of enthusiasts upgrade to further boost performance, some to personalise, and others to improve day-to-day comfort and practicality.
One of the single most popular upgrades Lotus owners make is to fit a pair of Tillett Racing Seats. In fact, Tillett has become somewhat synonymous with the Lotus brand, and has even developed a whole seat concept (the B5) to fit the narrow cabin of the Elise / Exige platform.
It's no wonder that Tillett seats consistently rank at the top of the upgrade wish-list for Lotus drivers. These seats bring about enhancements in every aspect that matters to a Lotus driver seeking improvement.
Lets take a look at some of the main benefits and improvements:
As we already touched on, limited cabin space is a big one for Lotus owner - and can actually ruin the ownership experience for taller drivers.
Installing a Tillett seat can immediately address this issue as the seats lower the driver significantly (by inches, not millimetres), whilst also going all the way back to the bulk head. This gives taller, longer bodied or longer legged drivers the room to adjust and dial in their perfect driving position. As well as giving that much needed extra leg room, you also get much more head clearance when wearing a helmet for track days - especially important if you fit a roll cage.
Depending on your specific Lotus model and specification and the Tillett seat you opt for, you can achieve significant weight-savings.
The stock seats in the new Emira, for example weigh in at 52kg a pair and sit very high in the vehicle. Compare that to a Tillett B10 which weighs just 4.5kg - giving a massive weight reduction of over 82% at 43kg saved (for a pair). When the brackets and runners are included, this works out at a weight saving of around 30kg!
Tillett seats are proven in motorsport, having created winning carbon composite components from kart to production car racing through to manufacturers such as Caterham and Aston Martin.
With Tillett you are sitting in a seat designed to perform, meaning that you have an anatomically superior body-supporting shape, and uprated ergonomics allowing perfect access to driving controls.
As well as providing a more dynamic seat angle, Tillett seats lock the body in position whilst allowing the driver to control the vehicle unhindered by intrusive shoulder support, or movement in a flexible shell.
Additionally, the lowered seating position results in a considerably lower centre of gravity - especially when you consider that in the lightweight Lotus, the weight of driver and passenger is a major part of the overall rolling weight. This directly contributes to improved handling, enhancing stability, traction, reducing body roll, and boosting braking performance.
Because Tillett’s competition programme requires its race seats to be designed to meet very stringent safety standards, they are able to apply the same approach and processes in developing its road-going range. Safety is meticulously integrated into every facet of a Tillett seat, encompassing design, construction, materials, and restraint systems, including features like six-point race harness compatibility and HANS device integration.
One of the best improvements, and one which surprises many drivers new to the Tillett brand, is the comfort upgrade they provide. This is mainly down to the accuracy of the profile and shape of the seat, which means that excessive padding (often used to mask a poor structural fit) is simply not required. Most drivers find that a Tillett seat is not only incredibly comfortable, but it is much more comfortable than the stock seats- even over long distance journeys.
A Tillett seat adds style and drama to any cabin space. In alignment with Lotus' commitment to purposefulness and functionality, a Tillett seat becomes the perfect complement, enhancing the overall aesthetic and functionality of the interior.
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Tillett Racing Seats look, feel and perform differently from any other seat on the market today. This is thanks to a unique (and closely guarded) manufacturing system which is part craftsmanship, part technical know-how and part materials technology.
From research and design to prototype testing and manufacture by hand - every step of our process is rooted in no-compromise quality.
Get in touch with us via our online contact form or by giving us a ring at 01795 420312.
