The new interior of the Tesla Model S includes a steering wheel of a very unusual shape. Due to the loss of the upper part, it now looks more like the steering wheel of a racing car than the steering wheel of an ordinary city vehicle. Outwardly really interesting. True, due to its shape, its use in urban traffic conditions may turn out to be not only inconvenient but even potentially dangerous. In particular, if necessary, perform a U-turn on the vehicle or parallel parking. The company itself does not report on the refinement of the steering mechanism, so you will still have to steer with interceptions.

Additional questions from Internet users were caused by the absence of steering-column indicators and a wiper, as well as a steering-column gearshift selector. To this, the head of Tesla Elon Musk replied that the updated Tesla, thanks to smart electronics, itself changes gears and predicts the direction of travel according to the traffic situation, navigation system, and obstacles that it sees in front of itself. All the nuances of the car’s behavior can be customized on the new onboard screen. He also added that after driving a new Tesla Model S for several days without a gearshift paddle shifter, the owner will not want to go back behind the wheel of the car where it is installed.

The rising information clamor caught the attention of the NHTSA. The agency said it will sort out the issue.

“At the moment, NHTSA is unable to draw conclusions about whether the steering [of the updated Tesla Model S] complies with federal vehicle safety standards. We will contact the automaker for more information, ” Fox News Autos quoted an NHTSA spokesperson as saying.