Fuel-efficient tiny CAR increasingly popular as an everyday vehicle.The drafters of the vehiclelooking for ways to maximize interior space. One is to get rid of the steering wheel. Of course this is not permanent.
TRW manufactures Fold Steering wheel
The engineers at Michigan TRW Automotive is developing asteering wheel that can be folded and embedded in the dashboardwhen parked. They claim the system can facilitate access in and out of the passenger, particularly the elderly and disabled.
The steering wheel has two handles that will lock in place when the vehicle is being driven, but can be folded to the inside when theengine is off. Circumference of the wheel will then be drawn into the dashboard so it presents a more spacious cabin space.
When the driver started the engine, steering wheel automaticallyexit back to the normal driving position. This steering wheel can also be set position to adjust settings of different drivers.
Development manager at TRW steering wheel folding Manuel Poyant sure this will begin appearing on vehicles in the next five years.
