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Mercedes-Benz to Swap Steering Wheels for Rectangular Yokes in Next-gen S-Class Sedan

Mercedes-Benz Wheels for Rectangular Yokes in Next-Gen S-Class

Mercedes-Benz is shaking up the steering wheel game. According to new reports, the German automaker plans to drop the traditional steering wheel in favor of a yoke-style controller, a la Tesla, in the next-gen S-Class sedan. Mercedes is also bringing physical buttons back to the wheel after owners complained the current touch-sensitive ones are just too darn finicky.

The inspiration for the new design comes from the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven Concept Car, which featured a unique rectangular controller that Mercedes believes will provide drivers with an unobstructed view of the road and their display.

Sources familiar with Mercedesā€™ plans told Handelsblatt the new S-Class, which isnā€™t expected to debut ā€˜til 2027, will sport a futuristic yoke instead of your standard circle. The newfangled steering device will supposedly offer drivers an unobstructed view of the road ahead. At the same time, Mercedes is rolling out a new steer-by-wire system to get rid of the old-school steering column. The advanced tech is poised to first appear in the all-electric EQS before spreading to other Benzes.

Turns out, Mercedes owners havenā€™t been the biggest fans of the touchy-feely buttons on current models. According to insiders, drivers have been heavily critical of the capacitive controls which can be ā€œunreliableā€ and tricky to use when trying to, you know, steer and drive and stuff. As a result, the German marque will bring physical switches back to the wheel, starting with next-gen models built on the new MMA platform.

While weā€™ll have to wait a few years for the yoke and button changes, the tech is likely to trickle down to other Mercedes models eventually. The S-Class usually acts as a crystal ball, previewing innovations that will influence the automakerā€™s fleet for years to come. So if youā€™re not a fan of finessing touch controls or Teslaā€™s minimalist take on steering, youā€™d better get used to it.

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