Toyota wants to keep betting on the yoke steering wheel, but gives it an extra touch to improve its use

Some time ago, Tesla introduced a rather curious novelty in several of its models. It was the yoke steering wheel, a different way of approaching the steering wheel design. Instead of being round, or even having a flattened bottom, it was a rectangular steering wheel, shaped like a yoke. But this innovation was not well received and, as it was an option when ordering the car, it was almost immediately discarded.

This type of steering wheel has become an increasingly less popular option and seems likely to disappear. But there is another brand that has broken with the trend of returning to traditional steering wheels. Toyota has dared to design a yoke steering wheel, which it will incorporate into several of its models in the near future. In fact, there is already a model from Lexus that uses this type of steering wheel, the Lexus RZ.

That said, h there are quite a few differences between the steering wheel that Toyota will present and the one Tesla had in its lineup. The Japanese manufacturer’s idea is that the car can be controlled as if it were a motorcycle. That is, among other novelties, it wants the speed and braking controls to be placed on the steering wheel, not on the pedals.

This will allow the steering wheel to be used as the vehicle’s main control, just as on a motorcycle. Both the accelerator and the brake are operated through a trigger placed on each side of the steering wheel. This solution is what raises concerns when it comes to putting it into practical use.

We are all used to pedals. Many people find it hard to do without the clutch pedal, which is normal in cars with automatic gearboxes and is increasingly common, or the use of a single pedal in electric models, so the use of this system integrated into the steering wheel may be quite confusing.

This steering wheel and the steer-by-wire system, which dispenses with a mechanical connection between the steering and the wheel, may be very practical for people with disabilities, but it will probably not become very popular with drivers in general. It will be presented at the Japan Mobility Show 2023, and we will see what reception this system receives.