Future Renault cars might have steering yokes instead of wheels
What's the story
French automotive giant Renault is looking at the possibility of adding steering yokes into its future cars. The company's one-of-a-kind Filante streamliner is being used as a testbed for the same. The vehicle has a two-spoke yoke that envelops a central instrument screen and controls the wheels through an electronic connection. This break from conventional steering racks employs electric motors to give tactile feedback like added weight and bumps.
Design impact
Steering yoke technology could revolutionize car interiors
Sandeep Bhambra, Renault's concept car design chief, emphasized that the removal of the column "liberates a lot of space on the interior." However, he also noted the difficulties of adding such an innovative feature into a production car. Even though other manufacturers such as Lexus and Toyota have approved similar systems for production and Tesla is already selling its Cybertruck with steer-by-wire, Bhambra cited "mostly customer acceptance" as a major hurdle.
Customer insights
Renault seeks customer feedback on steer-by-wire technology
However, Stephane Maiore, Renault's interior design chief, said that the firm doesn't have enough customer feedback on steer-by-wire technology yet. He said they plan to use the Filante as a platform to "explore the technology and work on it." At the Retromobile classic car show where Filante made its public debut, Renault design boss Gilles Vidal said he wasn't sure if customers actively demand by-wire systems.
Conceptual changes
Filante ditches traditional throttle, brake pedals
Along with the steering yoke, Renault's Filante streamliner also ditches conventional throttle and brake pedals. Instead, it uses video game controller-style triggers that are mounted on the rear of the steering spokes. However, Maiore clarified that this feature was conceptual and highly unlikely to be included in any future production cars.