Big news for electric car enthusiasts, particularly those favouring the trailblazers at Tesla. The company has recently decided to reintroduce the traditional steering wheel in their Model S and Model X as the default option. The more futuristic and contentious ‘yoke’ steering wheel, on the other hand, is now something you’ll have to fork out a bit more for.
The Yoke Revolution
The yoke steering wheel was Elon Musk’s radical attempt to shake up traditional automotive conventions. However, it has now gone from being standard to a payable upgrade for your Tesla motor in the United States. In a surprising U-turn, the standard round wheel has made a comeback in the Model S and Model X configurators, with the yoke steering an addition costing you an extra $250, a contrast to the previous situation where you would have got to choose between the two at no extra cost.
The UK Perspective
As of now, Tesla has yet to announce a price for the yoke steering option in the United Kingdom. The re-introduction of the traditional steering wheel and the extra charges for the yoke steering poses an interesting question for the UK market, when and if the latest Model S and Model X versions finally hit the UK shores. Remember, it has been a couple of years since these models were available for purchase in the UK.
This development follows a trend where Tesla has displayed a knack for surprising their customer base. Earlier this year, Tesla slashed the prices of the Model 3 and Model Y models by up to £7,000, which significantly increased their competitiveness in the market.
Treading the Yoke Path
Other major car manufacturers seem to be apprehensive about veering from traditional wheel designs. The only other company to make a foray into yoke steering design thus far is Lexus, with the latest version of their RZ SUV. Test drives revealed that the new steering system worked, but whether it enhanced the driving experience or not is subjective.
Are we heading towards a future where yoke steering becomes mainstream, or is the traditional round wheel simply too practical to be replaced? Only time will reveal the direction car design takes. For now, Tesla fans will need to decide whether the unique and futuristic yoke design is worth shelling out extra for.
