After a number of car owners complained about difficulties in getting used to the yoke butterfly steering wheel, Tesla has now quietly introduced an option for a standard round steering wheel for its Model X and Model S cars. Problems voiced by some in the community regarding the yoke include an awkward feeling at the wheel and difficulty in regaining control after slips on the road.
As with Tesla’s original rectangular yoke wheels, functions such as honking, turn signals, and windshield wipers will still be controlled via buttons on the new steering wheel. However, another traditional element of the driving experience, the stalk, will still be excluded in Tesla vehicles. The horn is especially controversial, with many owners finding issues with the small size and offset positioning. Last March, Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla would equip the new steering wheels with a horn push in the middle of the wheel. Though likely, it’s still unconfirmed whether or not the round steering wheels will receive the update.
The new retrofit steering wheels will start to be available this March as an option for $700 USD.
Elsewhere in automotive news, Stellantis offers the first look at its Ram 1500 EV Concept Truck.