Twitchy and unpredictable is a terrifying way to describe steering, but that sums up the Lexus RZ’s steer by wire system we tested earlier this year.
Lexus seems to have listened to the criticism as they’re reportedly still ironing out the kinks. However, they still have plans to put the system into production.
According to Car & Driver, the company “isn’t yet satisfied with the tuning” and has made substantial changes. Among the updates is the ability to turn the steering wheel “200 degrees in each direction, rather than 150 degrees” as in initial prototypes.
Review: The Lexus RZ’s Yoke And Steer By Wire System Are Solutions Looking For A Problem
However, even with the updates, the publication says there’s still work to be done especially at low speeds. While that’s disappointing, they found the “highly variable ratio of the steer-by-wire system natural and easy to acclimate to.”
You can read more of their impressions here, but engineers told the publication they expect development to be wrapped up next year. The system and yoke would then presumably find themselves in the RZ shortly thereafter. However, they won’t be limited to the electric crossover as officials confirmed plans to offer the tech in additional models.
With all that being said, the steer by wire system replaces a mechanical linkage with electrical signals. Steering inputs are registered and fed to an actuator, which controls the steering itself. The car also sends feedback to the yoke, so drivers have a sense of what’s going on.
If that wasn’t enough, the system has an adjustable steering ratio that changes based on your speed. This is supposed to improve low speed maneuverability in parking lots and garages, while also keeping the car stable at higher speeds.
