Autoblog

Reprieve! End of Mazda RX-8 pushed back by extra 1,000 units

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:13:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Japan, Hatchback, Mazda, Specialty

And now for some good news from Mazda: it is doubling the run of its limited edition RX-8 Spirit R, adding 1,000 more units to production due to demand. Announced late last year, this Japan-only model celebrates the end of the RX-8's nine-year existence. The final Wankel-engined four-door is scheduled to roll off the line in June.

The Spirit R doesn't skimp on the extra trim bits inside and out, with larger brakes clamped by red calipers, piano-black transmission tunnel trim, Recaro Sprint R bucket seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and an enhanced traction control system among the bonus features.

Both automatic and manual transmissions are offered, but takers have gone decisively for the row-your-own cogswapper, making up 66 percent of orders. Compared to the automatic, they receive larger 19-inch wheels on lower profile tires, a "hard suspension," alloy pedals and aero bits. Hit the jump for the press release with more details.

Continue reading Reprieve! End of Mazda RX-8 pushed back by extra 1,000 units

Reprieve! End of Mazda RX-8 pushed back by extra 1,000 units originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Six Days of Giveaways - Day 5: Recaro ProBOOSTER Child Seat [UPDATE]

John Neff — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST

UPDATE: The entry period for this giveaway has ended. We'll publish the name of the winner once his/her eligibility has been verified. Make sure to enter our Six Days of Giveaways - Day 6 for a chance to win a custom Xbox 360 console, Forza Motorsport 4 and Wireless Racing Wheel.

We never want to forget that many if not most auto enthusiasts have progeny, and while it'd be all too easy to blame your spawn for the simple fact that there is a Honda Odyssey instead of a Porsche Boxster in your garage right now, the truth is that you could be raising the next Ayrton Senna.

With that in mind, we want to help kick off your child's racing career with his or her very first Recaro seat (Facebook, Twitter): the Recaro ProBOOSTER child seat designed for children 37 to 61 inches tall and weighing between 30 an 120 pounds.

As a bonus, we're also going to include a few of those Stig family sticker sets we posted on last week.

NOTE: Make sure to check your spam folder to see if you're a winner of any of this week's giveaways.

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a single comment on this post (if you leave two or more, all of your entries will be disqualified)
You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
Limit 1 entry per person during entry period
The entry period ends at 1:00 PM EST on Friday, December 23th, 2011. We'll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive a Recaro ProBOOSTER child seat valued at $129.99.
For a list of complete rules, click here.

Six Days of Giveaways - Day 5: Recaro ProBOOSTER Child Seat [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ID Agency and Michael Chacon show off Ford Focus build

Zach Bowman — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Budget, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Ford

Now that the dust has begun to settle after the SEMA explosion, we're discovering a handful of awesome videos that shed a little more light on some of our favorite cars from the show. That includes the ID Agency Ford Focus worked up with professional fixed-gear bike rider Michael Chacon. The hatch wears some seriously sexy BASF paint, and with a body kit drawn up by design guru Jon Sibal and a Wraptivo carbon fiber roof, the Focus has some serious attitude. An AEM cold-air intake and a Magnaflow exhaust help bump up the power, while a Brembo big brake kit is responsible for bringing the machine down from speed.

Inside sits a set of some of the most beautiful seats we've ever laid eyes on. The Sportster thrones were worked up by Recaro and feature two-tone leather and plenty of custom stitching. Do want.

The video after the jump spends plenty of time speaking with Chacon about his inspirations and what it's like to see SEMA from the outside. The clip is set to some pretty snappy tunes, including M83's "Midnight City." Hit the jump to check it out for yourself.

Continue reading ID Agency and Michael Chacon show off Ford Focus build

ID Agency and Michael Chacon show off Ford Focus build originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini adding Recaro seat option for 2012

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Mini, Luxury

Starting next March, Mini buyers will be able to grab a set of Recaro seats off the option list for their cars. The upmarket buckets will be available for all Mini models except the Countryman and Convertible.

As you likely guessed, they don't come cheap. Be prepared to fork over a heady $3,000 for the better seats. There are other constraints. The Recaros only come in black leather and Dinamica and can only be had with built-in heaters. Still, they look the ruckus and should make Cooper S and JCW drivers even happer when they attack the twisty stuff.

Mini adding Recaro seat option for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda RX-8 Spirit R will be last special edition before production ends

Zach Bowman — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:43:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Japan, Mazda

Mazda has chosen to commemorate the departure of the company's RX-8 with one last special edition in Japan. The Mazda RX-8 Spirit R is set to arrive at Japanese dealerships next month and will offer 1,000 lucky buyers a host of aesthetic upgrades over the base vehicle. The package starts with an RX-8 RS and adds in exclusive badging, unique head- and taillights with black bezels and red brake calipers outside. Indoors, the cabin wears special Spirit R bucket seats hewn by the people at Recaro as well as piano black transmission tunnel trim.

Models equipped with an automatic transmission will enjoy black leather seats with red contrasting stitching. Mazda says that the RX-8 Spirit R will also feature a sport-tuned suspension and larger brakes, as well as 18-inch gun metallic wheels. A total of three exterior color options will be available, including Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica and Crystal White Pearl Mica. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Mazda RX-8 Spirit R will be last special edition before production ends

Mazda RX-8 Spirit R will be last special edition before production ends originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Johnson Controls buys Recaro

Zach Bowman — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Earnings/Financials

The automotive seat and specialty slice of Recaro officially has a new owner. Johnson Controls has snapped up Keiper Recaro Group - formerly owned by Putsch Gmbh & Co. KG - swallowing both the recliner manufacturer Keiper and the well-known automotive seat-maker Recaro in one fell swoop. In so doing, Johnson Controls is hoping to broaden Recaro's OEM applications, serving up both whole seats and components on a larger scale than ever before.

Challenges facing such efforts include increased standardization and globalization in the industry. Meanwhile, the remaining faces of the Recaro brand will stay behind. The company's aircraft seating, child safety and home factions are not included in the sale. A total of 4,750 employees across seven countries are included in the Keiper and Recaro Group sale.

[Source: Automotive World]

Report: Johnson Controls buys Recaro originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Buick Regal GS caught going out for lunch

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Buick, GM

Spy Shots: 2012 Buick Regal GS - Click above for high-res image gallery

We spy with our little eye, a camouflaged 2012 Buick Regal GS taking a group of General Motors employees out to lunch. Rather than opting for the drive-thru, this group decided to stay out of the office a bit longer and left the vehicle alone in a parking lot, and our CarPix spy photographers were ready to pounce in order to give us this good look at the sportiest Buick we've seen for eons.

And sporty it shall be judging by the hardware the cameras caught. A set of heavily-bolstered Recaro seats look identical to the super grippy chairs used in the model's Opel Insignia OPC twin, and there's a six-speed manual transmission sprouting between the bolsters, further suggesting that this is no mere people hauler. The Regal is expected to borrow heavily from the OPC partsbin, and that's great thing. The OPC is motivated by a 320 horsepower, twin-turbo V6 that pushes the all-wheel drive car to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in just six seconds. In our brief experience with the Euro market car, it has an altogether more hardcore and snarlier character that should appeal to diehard enthusiasts, and it's sure to bring some performance luster back to the TriShield brand. We can hardly wait.

Gallery: Buick Regal GS: Spy Shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: 2012 Buick Regal GS caught going out for lunch originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recaro launches new ProSeries child safety seat line

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

Recaro ProSeries child safety seats - Click above for high-res image gallery

Typically, when we think of Recaro, heavily bolstered sport seats for high-performance vehicles come to mind. However, Recaro has also been offering child safety seats for several years and has just launched a new line of ProSeries models. The new line includes three different seats starting with the convertible ProRide, which can be used in either rear or forward face mode for newborns and small infants.

As the kids grow, the ProSport and ProBooster seats are available for children up to 120 pounds. The seats all feature energy absorbing foam and adjustable head restraints so that the little ones get optimal protection. Of course, just as with the Recaros for grown-ups you'll pay a premium for these suckers compared to other brands, but we suppose that's just the price you pay for style and safety. See all the details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: Recaro ProSeries child safety seats

[Source: Recaro]

Continue reading Recaro launches new ProSeries child safety seat line

Recaro launches new ProSeries child safety seat line originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac CTS gets Recaro seats just like V model

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Cadillac, Luxury

Cadillac CTS Recaro Seats - Click above to enlarge

Around the Autoblog campfire, the second-generation Cadillac CTS remains one of our favorite sedans of recent years. For one thing, the interior of the gen-two CTS is vastly better executed than the original. But like the Corvette, it has one weakness: The seats. They aren't terrible, just not great. That error has been rectified with news from Cadillac today that multi-adjustable power-actuated Recaro front seats are now available as an option. These same seats have been available in the supercharged CTS-V, but now buyers of the V6 sedan can get them as well.

At $2,800 the new seats don't come cheap, but you will definitely be hooked once you sit in them and start taking a few hard corners. Adjustable side bolsters and extendable seat cushions for those of us with long thighs allow these new thrones to fit any driver. Frankly, we'd love to seem them installed in the Corvette ZR1 as well, but the engineers tell us they are a bit too wide for the C6. When the two-door, fast-back CTS coupe goes on sale this summer, these same seats will also be available in both the V6- and LSA-powered variants. Unfortunately, those who opt for the extra cargo space of the Sportwagon will have to make do with the standard seats.

[Source: Cadillac]

Continue reading Cadillac CTS gets Recaro seats just like V model

Cadillac CTS gets Recaro seats just like V model originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have a seat: Mitsu releases Colt Ralliart Version-R Recaro Edition

Alex Nunez — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:54:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Mitsubishi

Click image for high-res gallery

To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Colt Ralliart Version-R, Mitsubishi has offered up a new special edition of the JDM-only (Correction: Australia, too. Why are we not surprised?) pocket rocket. The Colt Ralliart Version-R Recaro Edition includes a set of Recaro buckets as standard equipment (how'd you guess?), and sports a few extra details as well. Version-R logos adorn the doorsill scuff plates, and prominent decals on the rear doors also come standard. The 5-speed's shift knob is the same one found in the Lancer Evolution IX, and a choice of four colors is available, including the new Aqua Blue (they all have black interiors). Its hopped up 1.5L turbo-four makes 154 horsepower. Pricing in Japan for the Recaro edition is set at ¥2,079,000 (That's a smidge over $17K USD for the exchange-rate-obsessed.)

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Gallery: Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart Version-R

Have a seat: Mitsu releases Colt Ralliart Version-R Recaro Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 May 2007 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recaros for your kiddos

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Safety, Technology

When most people shop for a car, they may be aware of the brand of tires or the kind of stereo, but few people think about who manufactured the seats. One exception to that is Recaro. The German company has long made seats for carmakers like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, as well as for the aftermarket. In the late '70s, Recaros became very popular with the introduction of their multi-articulated seats.

More recently, Recaro has applied some of its expertise to the world of child safety seats. They offer a line of products ranging from rear-facing infant seats to boosters for older children. Styled in the fashion of their full-sized driver seats with adjustable bolsters and removable liners, the child seats' can be tweaked to keep your kids safe and secure as they grow. They aren't cheap, but they are Recaros.

[Source: Recaro via The Driving Woman]

Recaros for your kiddos originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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