Return of original seats? ("classic black")

[CameronB]

Amongst the other interior changes (new color, switch to all synthetic premium/"vegan leather" material) discussed in other threads, I have also noticed that there are two (not including the cloth/base) options for black interior: Black and Classic Black.

In the configurator all of the premium (now synthetic leather) seats look the same as we have seen for a while now. I'm talking about the seat itself.

But selecting "Classic Black" the preview of the seat itself changes - it looks like the original Tesla seat. The one with the horizontal stitching down the center. It looks like they may have brought back the older wider/flatter seat cushion. Can't tell for sure - but it looks like that's the case from the photos.

 

[CameronB]

3rd Gen/Premium "Black"

Newly introduced "Classic Black"

Black seats from 2013 Model S

 

[kev1n]

strangely i find the older seats more comfortable, I had a loaner for a few days with the next gen seats and found the larger bolsters to be uncomfortable

 

[WarpedOne]

You may not be the only one and tesla found the way to do it.

 

[CameronB]

Yeah I have definitely heard several people say they also preferred the older seats. So it seems like Tesla has re-introduced those "classic" seats to give those types of people another option.

 

[CalBlue 85D]

strangely i find the older seats more comfortable, I had a loaner for a few days with the next gen seats and found the larger bolsters to be uncomfortable

+100 I had a loaner last week and was surprised at just how uncomfortable the nex-gen seats were in comparison to my car. I could not do a long road trip in those seats.

 

[timf]

I don't think the classic black seats ever went away. They've been there every time I've checked the Design Studio over the past few months as other features have come and gone.

 

[HankLloydRight]

It should be notes that the classic black seats are only available on the 75/75D.

 

[lunitiks]

strangely i find the older seats more comfortable, I had a loaner for a few days with the next gen seats and found the larger bolsters to be uncomfortable

 

[ecarfan]

It should be notes that the classic black seats are only available on the 75/75D.

It may be that Tesla has a supply of the "Classic" seat style that they want to use up, and that choice may disappear in the near future.

I think it would be odd for Tesla to offer 3 different styles of black seats ("Multi-Pattern", "Black", and "Classic Black") on a long term basis considering that they continue to simplify their production process by offering fewer option choices, as recent events have shown.

 

[jelloslug]

They have been there all along (on the 60/75 cars).

 

[kev1n]

It may be that Tesla has a supply of the "Classic" seat style that they want to use up, and that choice may disappear in the near future.

I think it would be odd for Tesla to offer 3 different styles of black seats ("Multi-Pattern", "Black", and "Classic Black") on a long term basis considering that they continue to simplify their production process by offering fewer option choices, as recent events have shown.

i wouldnt be surprised if they were around to stay. it seems people are 50/50 on the old/new seats. this option is also an easy swap, probably 4 bolts seats per seat and to unplug 1-2 harnesses. nothing like swapping air suspension/coils or changing the different roofs out.

 

[seclinton]

It would help to have some things remain standard for 10 years to support post warranty cars. Think a few generations ahead and maybe designs wouldn't change overnight. Could be supply related too

 

[David29]

strangely i find the older seats more comfortable, I had a loaner for a few days with the next gen seats and found the larger bolsters to be uncomfortable

Not meaning to be picky, but I think the term "next gen" actually applied to a type of seat built by Recaro that was offered for a while from late 2014 or early 2015 until the Model X came out. Model X had a new seat design that was somewhat less bolstered than the "next gen" seats. Some time after the Model X debut, as I recall, today's "premium" seat design was also introduced to the Model S. Some people found the next gen seats to be too heavily bolstered and/or too narrow, although others strongly preferred them. My sense is that the current Tesla premium seats are a compromise between the Recaro-style Next Gen seats and the earlier original Model S seats.

At least, that is how I remember it.

 

[richrootes]

Not sure if it's an optical illusion, but is there a line denoting a separate head rest on the new seats - like in the X?

 

[SMAlset]

We have the leather premium seats in our car and while the narrower bolstering is sometimes felt, I haven't had a problem with it even after a 4 hour trip. I can see where less bolstering and more flat at the leg area would be desirable for some and the seat design in that respect is more like my Avalon which I do find comfortable. We have a high quality leather reclining chair that has a seam down the middle of the back and honestly I can feel that seam when sitting against it and find it uncomfortable. Always wondered if that center seam with that older seat design is detectable for drivers/passengers. Just know when we were making our design decisions prior to buying I did sit in a car with seats I really thought felt uncomfortable. We ordered the perfed premium leather that was available at the end of 2016 and I love them so know we didn't end up with the other ones.

 

[CameronB]

Not meaning to be picky, but I think the term "next gen" actually applied to a type of seat built by Recaro that was offered for a while from late 2014 or early 2015 until the Model X came out. Model X had a new seat design that was somewhat less bolstered than the "next gen" seats. Some time after the Model X debut, as I recall, today's "premium" seat design was also introduced to the Model S. Some people found the next gen seats to be too heavily bolstered and/or too narrow, although others strongly preferred them. My sense is that the current Tesla premium seats are a compromise between the Recaro-style Next Gen seats and the earlier original Model S seats.

At least, that is how I remember it.

Exactly right, David.

Original seats->NextGen seats->Premium seats

That's why I called them "3rd Generation/Premium seats" in my original caption in this thread. I think a lot of people confuse the NextGen and Premium seats. Most cars wouldn't have 3 completely different seats in about 4 years...so I suspect people are not used to such "seat schizophrenia"

 

[David29]

Not sure if it's an optical illusion, but is there a line denoting a separate head rest on the new seats - like in the X?

True. I was in a showroom about a month ago and thew Model S on display there did indeed have an adjustable headrest. You adjust it with the same seat control used for the lumbar support, and choose which part you want to adjust using a pop-up menu on the center screen. I don't recall when that change was introduced.