Steering Wheel Configuration

[4hotshoes]

I see images of the steering wheel with three supports: one straight down and the other two straight side to side. When I cruise on the highway in good weather, I rest my hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. I have had other vehicles with the pillar straight down, and I have found it frustrating. Because one hand off-center throws off the steering and requires energy to keep it centered or balanced. I never rest my hand on the top of the center as some do. Please make this an option. Or if you could split the filler to make room for a hand in between, that would work,

because this might become a deal-breaker due to my discomfort. I know you can't please everyone. But since you are asking for requests... Thanks

 

[cadblu]

As you, I am not a big fan of the standard steering wheel. It's not that the spokes are at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock that bothers me. From the media it appears that the wheel ring is hard-surfaced plastic. Perhaps I'm wrong but It's not soft touch or pliable material, definitely not leather wrapped. I think the wheel should have a quality feel, as it's the primary man / machine interface. I would not be surprised if an upgraded steering wheel with a different spoke arrangement and more premium materials shows up on the Slate maker in the future.

 

[clofan]

Hm, I hadn't looked at the steering wheel but I'm with you, having a gap in the middle bottom is critical. It won't be a deal-breaker for me but certainly an annoyance.

 

[kvermeer]

I disagree, 3 spokes makes perfect sense. I have two hands - one on the left and one on the right, so if I'm holding on with one hand near the bottom, it's easiest to hold the wheel at 5 o'clock with my right or 7 o'clock with my left.

I do agree that the steering wheel is the one place that makes the most sense to have a premium feel. Leather is best, and in an EV where you want to maximize contact heating (eg. heated seats) instead of spending energy blowing hot air through the cabin, a heated leather wheel is both luxurious and utilitarian.

 

[Driven5]

While smooth rather than faux textured, the steering wheel in the demonstrator I sat in was decidedly not hard plastic. It may not have provided a 'luxury' experience, but there was also nothing offensive about it either. It was perfectly acceptable.

Worst cast scenario, if Slate doesn't offer leather steering wheel wrap kits themselves, something like this is always an options... https://wheelskins.com/

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

While smooth rather than faux textured, the steering wheel in the demonstrator I sat in was decidedly not hard plastic. It may not have provided a 'luxury' experience, but there was also nothing offensive about it either. It was perfectly acceptable.

Worst cast scenario, if Slate doesn't offer leather steering wheel wrap kits themselves, something like this is always an options... https://wheelskins.com/

+1 have these on 2 of my cars including the MB and they look and feel fantastic

 

[Firstevexcited1]

So change the wheel to what you want...it's a blank slate.

 

[JoeBlow-Kokomo]

not with an airbag.

 

[beatle]

You can still change the wheel with an airbag, but it will very likely preserve the airbag itself and the orientation of the spokes. Further, the buttons are almost surely tied to the CAN bus, so you can't just cut them out without triggering an error.

The Slate wheel looks a fair amount like the Rivian wheel, I think:

 

[KevinRS]

The recommended positioning is 10 and 2, with your thumbs NOT wrapped around the wheel. if not having an open bottom half of the wheel is a dealbreaker for you... that probably locks out lots of different vehicles.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

The recommended positioning is 10 and 2, with your thumbs NOT wrapped around the wheel.

Hm - I disagree on both, the positioning and hooking thumbs.

Care to share your source for this recommendation?

 

[Driven5]

10/2 is outdated, largely due to airbag related injuries. 9/3 to 8/4, with thumbs (let alone hands) NOT wrapped around the inside of the wheel, has been found to be safer and is the official (modern) recommendation.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/steeringtechniques.pdf

 

[bartflossom]

I'm guessing the 8 and 4 is to get more steering input before you have to go to hand over hand?

As much as I love simplification of cars, I have to admit my wife's lane centering on her Tucson is super nice on long trips. I generally use one hand at about 5 o'clock hooked when cruising, which is insane, but go back to 10 and 2 in traffic.

 

[Driven5]

I'm guessing the 8 and 4 is to get more steering input before you have to go to hand over hand?

Hand over hand is not recommended for anything other than low (parking) speed.

Done right, 'shuffling' hands is the 'preferred' recommendation that works well at any speed.

While 8 and 4 might give a little more input before needing to exchange hands than 9 and 3, I believe it's more to help reduce fatigue during longer drives.

 

[GaRailroader]

I think the 8 and 4 recommendation over 10 and 2 is due to air bag deployment safety.