This is what the steering wheel of the future could look like at Hyundai

Hyundai is working on a new steering wheel, and we have been able to see what the new patent from the South Korean brand looks like. The carmaker has gone all out and is developing exciting vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It is not only innovating in complete vehicles; it is also making a notable leap forward in its technology.

Now, the brand has wanted to go one step further and has presented, in Germany, a new patent for an advanced steering wheel module that could be inspired by Formula 1 single-seaters. Moreover, this patent once again demonstrates the company’s willingness to try new things. The design of Hyundai’s new steering wheel features a screen placed inside the wheel. It is worth highlighting that this design addresses the problem some drivers have, where the steering wheel obstructs the instrument cluster.

This is Hyundai’s revolutionary steering wheel

With this new steering wheel, information will appear on the wheel rather than on the instrument cluster. The patent registered by Hyundai in Germany explains how the driver airbag, which is also fitted in the steering wheel, can deploy without damaging the screen. The display unit and the airbag unit are separated into different mounts.

This is not the first time Hyundai has experimented with touch controls on steering wheels, but the new patent aims to make vehicle information more visible than changing radio stations. It may seem a rather complex solution, but one must also ask whether this screen on the wheel will increase driver distraction and cause the occasional lapse of attention.

A few months ago, Genesis, which forms part of the Hyundai group, presented the Mint Concept. That model already featured a large screen on the steering wheel. Everything points to the next models, whether from Genesis or Hyundai, being able to fit this new steering wheel display system. It should be noted that a patent application does not necessarily mean this new technology will actually be fitted. Who knows whether we might see a new member of the high-performance family, the Hyundai N, with a revolutionary steering wheel with a screen?

Do you think it would make sense for new Hyundai models to fit this type of digital instrument cluster in the steering wheel, or do you consider it a dangerous distraction? We will have to wait and see whether the patent makes it to production.