A yoke replacing the steering wheel is definitely of the weirdest features of the recently updated Tesla Model S and Model X (alongside the absence of a gear selector), and finally, we have the first videos of people using it in real-life driving situations.
Round steering wheels have been around for more than a century so it is perfectly normal for drivers to feel uncomfortable when they first witness the cut-off shape of the yoke. After all, besides Formula 1, the only time we come across similar kinds of driving controls is in sci-fi films or TV series like “Knight Rider”.
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Letting aside the visual aspect and the cool factor of the yoke, the main point of criticism concerns its practicality. Steering wheels are round because they are the best solution for, well, steering the vehicle in all kinds of scenarios. When flat-bottomed steering wheels became the norm for mainstream automobiles a few years ago, there were a few voices against this trend as grabbing them while turning was a bit cumbersome. So, cutting off the top makes driving even more demanding.
As you would imagine, the videos prove that the yoke needs some time to get used to. While lane changes are performed without any issues, the view of the digital instrument cluster is unobstructed and the designers have successfully integrated the turn signals on the yoke, things are not quite as smooth in tight turns.
The driver’s hands cross with each other too often and we can’t help but feel insecure when the yoke returns to its regular position after a U-turn. A part of this maybe has to do with the new factor of the design, as owners will gradually get used to the yoke’s shape. At the end of the day though, everyone admits that a round object will always be easier to turn than a rectangle.
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As Jalopnik suggests, yokes may be perfect for racing cars (and spaceships) but they are less than ideal for everyday driving. According to a Tesla Model S owner, the yoke has 2.25 turns from lock-to-lock, which is around 800 degrees. This number is far from the maximum of 300-400 degrees in modern F1 cars and closer to the 900 degrees of a typical automobile.
So would you spec your own car with a yoke if this was an option? The videos might help you make up your mind. In any case, Tesla is also offering a round steering wheel option hidden in the configurator so buyers of the updated Model S and Model X can enjoy the freedom of choice.