Automakers are continuously pushing the boundaries in terms of automotive technologies. Now, it seems that they are taking it too far with the yoke wheel concept, the strange new steering wheel setup that some believe it is preparing drivers for a fully autonomous future.
The yoke steering wheel which is in use on the 2021 Tesla Model S and Model X, Lexus LF-Z Concept, and MG Cyberster concept, among others, suggests the emergence of a new design trend. But there’s a pesky question lingering over this childish affectation: is it legal? And why are we trying to implement the yoke steering wheel?
Ordinarily, the use of a yoke steering wheel on a concept car, such as the Lexus or MG wouldn’t necessarily garner attention. But reports of Tesla's intention to offer it as an option on the upgraded Model S and Model X interiors has gathered attention. The brand's autopilot system has stunned us and has caused quite a stir on the internet, and the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck is set to revolutionize the pickup truck game, but sometimes the California-based company can go too far.
Tesla's surprise reveal of a yoke-shaped steering wheel for the updated Model S and Model X caught the electric vehicle world a little off guard, even if the changes inside the cabin were otherwise evolutionary. The vertical center screen was replaced with a horizontal one, and a new and smaller central screen was added for the benefit of rear-seat passengers in the Model S, with Tesla opting not to introduce individual screens into the seatbacks for rear-seat passengers. The sedan also received some minor exterior upgrades below the beltline, changes that might not be noticeable unless you already own one. The main concern however was the option of a yoke-style steering wheel which has raised a few eyebrows.
But why are we trying to implement yoke steering wheel in cars when yolk doesn’t belong in cars? Let's begin with why yolk exists.  A yoke, alternatively known as a control wheel or a control column, is a device used for piloting some fixed-wing aircraft. The pilot uses the yoke to control the attitude of the plane, usually in both pitch and roll. Rotating the control wheel controls the ailerons and the roll axis. The forward and aft movement of the control column controls the elevator and the pitch axis. When the yoke is pulled back the nose of the aircraft rises. When the yoke is pushed forward the nose is lowered. When the yoke is turned left the plane rolls to the left and when it is turned to the right the plane rolls. This means that a yoke is used in pairs for both the pilot and copilot. Note that a yoke is for a pair of controls and not just one.
Yoke steering wheels have been tried before, it is far from a new idea. Many automakers have considered it, but it’s never proven practical enough to reach production. Harley Earl, inspired by aircraft design, used a yoke steering wheel in the turbine-powered 1953 Firebird I concept car at GM’s Motorama, looking much like a missile with four wheels.
The yoke steering wheel alternative is seen in the updated version of Model S certainly looks futuristic and may well be legal in the U.S., absent a contrary NHTSA rule, but it may not be all that practical, especially for those who have not driven a car with this setup before.
The new steering wheel features a Formula One-like design. It has no stalks, which typically control lights, wiper movements, and turn signals. There are two rollers on the wheel for scrolling and various indicators that illuminate. Tesla plans to replace these functionalities with an AI that will decide based where to go and show turn signals based on the scenery and navigation data.
Some people might say that the steering wheel design looks cool, and will be tempted to point out that plenty of race cars employ steering systems of this type, and that is true. They’re used in Formula 1 race cars as previously mentioned, ones with steering ratios far quicker than those used for passenger cars, where slower steering ratios call for hand-over-hand rotation of a steering wheel. Race drivers don't do much parallel parking or need to turn through regular low-speed intersections, at least not while in a race car—that's where the different ratios start to matter.

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