This will be Mercedes’ first foray into the world of steer-by-wire.
This will be Mercedes’ first foray into the world of steer-by-wire.
Steer-by-wire, in which a car can be steered electronically rather than through a physical connection between the steering wheel and steering rack, is coming to Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker says it will use the steering technology in its forthcoming refreshed EQS sedan, marking its first foray into the world of steer-by-wire.
Steer-by-wire systems replace traditional mechanical steering mechanisms that include racks and pinions with electronically controlled servos. Commonly used in airplanes, the electronic system takes inputs from the driver and relays them to electronic actuators that then control the direction of the wheels on the car.
Mercedes says it isn’t abandoning electromechanical steering completely; it plans on shipping versions of the EQS with traditional steering technology in addition to models with steer-by-wire. The automaker put over a million test kilometers (over 621,000 miles) on the odometer with the new system before approving it for production. It also uses a redundant system architecture in addition to high-precision sensors and powerful control units to ensure it meets the brand’s safety metrics.
“These two signal paths ensure steering capability is always guaranteed,” Mercedes says in a press release.
Along with steer-by-wire, the EQS will also include a new steering yoke that is sure to divide Mercedes fans. The look is similar to something you’d find in a race car, or even in the cockpit of an airplane. A lot of automakers have attempted to make steering yokes cool, including Tesla, Lexus, and Toyota. At CES, Hyundai showed off a very cool Ioniq 5 with wheels that go completely sideways. But many automakers have backtracked after an outcry from owners and safety advocates, so it remains to be seen whether Mercedes sticks to its yoke — er, guns.
Mercedes says the new yoke instantly transforms the interior of the EQS. The company argues that with a flatter steering wheel, drivers will have an unfettered view of the instrument cluster, as well as an easier time getting into and out of the vehicle. But you can’t discount the existence of something to grab onto while taking a turn at high speeds, for example. Also, a steering wheel can offer padding to ease pressure during long drives.
The early reactions to the new EQS are pretty positive. The Drive praised it as a “steering yoke that actually works,” while InsideEVs called the steer-by-wire system “the best one out there” — but held off on individually praising the yoke.
