New Touch Sensitive Steering Wheel Excites Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is excited over its new touch-sensitive steering wheel. The new steering made its debut in the refreshed 2021 E-Class model. It is available in all-leather or a combination of wood and leather. This capacitive steering wheel in the new E-Class will be part of a new digitalized generation of steering wheels from Mercedes that we will see on future models. Mercedes-Benz says that this new steering wheel will be very responsive and easy to handle than any other steering by the company.

The steering wheel’s rim has a two-zone sensor that can tell if the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel. This means that movement isn’t required to tell the vehicle’s driver-assist systems that the car is under control. In addition to the sensors on the outer rim, there are touch-control buttons on the spokes that work with digital signals. The new steering wheels can be had in three different configurations: Sport, Luxury, and Supersport. The airbag is concealed in a central, spherical housing, and the spokes and rim are different on each version. The Supersport (pictured above) features a flat bottom and a three-spoke design. The Luxury steering wheel (pictured below) features three spokes that Mercedes says are meant to be shaped

The company’s first automobile, the patent motor car by Carl Benz in 1886, didn’t even have a wheel. Instead, it used a steering crank because carriage drivers were used to pulling on reins to direct the horses. The first steering wheel was created by French engineer Alfred Vacheron on his Panhard & Levassor, which was used in the world’s first automobile race from Paris to Rouen in July 1894. Vacheron only placed 11th in the race but the idea of the steering wheel took off.

• See Related Post: The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Unveiled (PHOTOS)