It sounds crazy to say that a steering wheel is revolutionary, but anybody who has driven a number of different cars over the course of the last few decades know that certain steering wheel changes have, in fact, completely changed the way that people drive and enjoy their vehicles.
In fact, the first cars were steered with just a tiller when most engines were still in the boot, and at some point after actual wheels begun being used, a horn button was installed. Later, steering wheels would get even bulkier with the addition of airbags, and today many of them feature all kinds of controls, from radio controls to paddle shifters. All it takes for some creative mind to find some way to literally reinvent the wheel, and consumers can then reap the benefits.
That, in truth, is what we could be looking at when it comes to the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which features a brand new steering wheel configuration with new controls that essentially make the thing work in conjunction with the various LED screens like a giant, round smartphone.
Two touch control buttons on either side of the steering wheel allow drivers to scroll through navigation, audio and other Bluetooth-connected smartphone apps with an ease that previously hasn’t been afforded them. This is the first time such controls ever have been included on a steering wheel, yet it’s such a simple concept that will make the lives of drivers easier and increasingly safe, as it keeps their eyes on the road rather than looking down and to the right at a touchscreen display that requires a heck of a lot more attention.
Fans of Mercedes-Benz near Winter Haven should be very excited about these new controls because even though the update is a simple one, it could prove to be another significant stop on an ever-changing timeline of improved steering wheel technologies.
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