For many years now, there has been a Silent battle between automakers: Who can make the best, most high-tech seats? Volvo has it orthopedic approved bucket (for any approval of ghost doctor is value), while Subaru updates the seats in the present Impreza And diagonal line based on medical data on motion sickness. However, it looks like Toyota is aiming for the high-tech seat crown with the new Tacoma TRD Pro—by adding an adjustable damping system directly to the front seats.
Most cars don’t even have adjustable shock absorbers in their suspension, but the updated Taco is right there in its interior. Toyota calls it the “IsoDynamic Performance Seat” and its purpose is to “stabilize the driver’s vision”. The company’s hope is that chairs can keep your eyes looking forward while jumping over rough trails.
The suspension of these suspension seats can adjust to your weight, which can lead to some very interesting interactions at the dealership. Do salespeople have to put your chair down before you leave? If not, will the seat give you a water-cushion effect under moisture and make the driving experience worse?
If so, the shocks can at least be locked. The levers on the seats can close them completely, turning your old chairs into regular, boring chairs. Of course, you get shock-absorbing seats with TRD Pro trim anyway—even if you turn them off, you’ll still impress any rear-seat passenger.
For one, I’m excited for this new era of seating luxury. Will we see people upgrading their seat shocks, buying replacement Öhlins or Feals when the suspension expires? On the forums, there will be debates and debates about whether to match the price of the spring between the driver and the passenger or not? The future of “sitting in the car” just got a whole lot more exciting.
