Believe It Or Not - Tesla Roadster's Crazy Steering Wheel Is Destined For Production

When Tesla first showed the world the second-generation Roadster prototype in 2017 many people didn’t believe the butterfly steering wheel would make it to production.

After all, this type of steering wheel is not street legal in most markets as it’s more common on track-exclusive supercars and racers than on production models. However, a Tesla engineer said at the launch that the company aimed to release the butterfly steering wheel in the production car.

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SanJoseDriver - 6/12/2019 3:04:04 PM

-3 Boost

LOL, I was actually right there when he drove off. The driver said "it takes some getting used to." The wheel looked sick, really want to drive this car. He also opened the door by swiping the B pillar and I think he put the car into gear using the touchscreen.

jerseycat1010 - 6/12/2019 3:24:18 PM

0 Boost

That's a beautiful looking coupe!

Truthy - 6/12/2019 4:59:24 PM

+2 Boost

If this type of wheel is not legal in most states it winds up being another Elon lie.
Plus, the dash looks like an early stage mockup with the column looking like a pipe.

SanJoseDriver - 6/13/2019 12:46:23 AM

-1 Boost

Perhaps in 2 years when this is in production there will be fewer regulation on wheels and mirrors (it also has no side mirrors).

Truthy - 6/16/2019 10:20:49 AM

+1 Boost

"Perhaps" is not a strategy nor a plan. If this is going to be produced in 2 years, and given Elon's track record it will be more like 4, then the tooling, etc, will have to be ordered now.

MDarringer - 6/16/2019 11:24:56 AM

+1 Boost

Truth: "'Perhaps' is not a strategy nor a plan..."

If something is going to be produced in two years, it's locked down NOW. But the better question is: prototypes? #none

skytop - 6/12/2019 7:13:13 PM

+3 Boost

Where is the cruise control button? Where are the landing flaps deploying control?

SanJoseDriver - 6/13/2019 12:54:22 AM

-1 Boost

Tesla has been cutting down the controls around the wheel for some time. The Model 3 only has 2 levers, one for turn signals + high beams + a button for wiper fluid and a second for shifting gears + autopilot.

The Roadster also has 2 levers, but with 0 buttons. As far as I can tell they only go up and down and have no labels. I think the left one only does turn signals and lights + wipers are only on the screen and the right one works the same as the Model 3 for gears & autopilot (double tap down for autopilot and my guess is double up for park). There are two subtle touchscreens on the "wheel" with directional controls and a virtual button.

SanJoseDriver - 6/14/2019 2:27:12 AM

+2 Boost

It's about pushing the design and usability forward. Remember old smartphones like blackberries and Treos with a million buttons... now both iPhone and Android devices eliminated all buttons on the face of the phone.