BMW has taken its next steps towards autonomous driving by revealing the steering wheel of the forthcoming iNext.
The polygonal steering wheel is thought to be the first of its kind, and also features unique contours, which make getting in and out easier than with a conventional wheel. BMW also says the positioning of the steering wheel gives the driver a better view of the cockpit.
The German manufacturer says that the polygonal shape was adopted as it’s easier for drivers to sense the steering wheel angle when it has an increased number of edges. That’s particularly important when a driver is ‘taking back control’ after the car has been driven autonomously.
As for the steering wheel’s features, it offers integral ambient lighting that can display functions such as the availability of the car’s autonomous settings when it’s safe to do so. It can also signal when the driver should take over being in control of the vehicle.
So far, BMW has teased the iNext’s curved digital display, with this steering wheel set to integrate into that feature.
The iNext is BMW’s upcoming technological flagship, which is set for a 2021 debut. It will be the first BMW that can truly handle autonomous driving in the right circumstances.
See Available BMW deals
The iNext will be an SUV that rivals the Audi e-tron and has so far been previewed by the Vision iNext concept, which has a similar footprint to the X5.
