Tesla Model S buyers will be able to ditch the wheel in favor of a conventional wheel
One of the most important interior innovations of the Tesla Model S for the next model year was a steering wheel’s appearance instead of the usual steering wheel. At the same time, the company abandoned the steering column levers in favor of touch-sensitive keys. An investigation by the Electrek website revealed that in the future, Tesla Model S buyers would be able to choose a regular-shaped steering wheel.
As the source explains, this right has not yet been implemented in the Tesla website’s configurator. Still, the website’s code has already found an image of the interior of the updated Model S with a steering wheel of the usual shape. There are no paddle shifters on it, so some ergonomic compromises cannot be avoided. For example, in the long run, Tesla wants to entrust the switching of transmission modes to automation, which will predict at what moments the electric car should resume movement or change its direction.
In Ohio, as noted by Electrek, a member of the Tesla owner community discovered a test prototype Model S in a parking lot with an updated interior and exterior, which was equipped with a classic-shaped steering wheel. It was devoid of paddle shifters, and the characteristic scroll wheels and touch-sensitive buttons with feedback were visible on the steering wheel hub. Tesla service center representatives told the author of the photos that the round steering wheel will be available for ordering as an option. Still, so far, this information is difficult to confirm officially. In the coming weeks, Tesla should already begin shipping the updated Model S and Model X electric vehicles, which will try on a new type of interior.