BMW iNext teaser reveals new steering wheel design

-The iNext is the upcoming electric SUV from BMW which is set to arrive in 2021.

-The new steering wheel design is compatible with the autonomous driving mode as well. 

A couple of months after teasing the unusual ‘Curved Display' infotainment system, BMW has dropped a new teaser for the upcoming iNext electric SUV. This time around, the focus is on the newly-designed steering wheel. BMW likes to call the design of the steering wheel as "polygonal geometry" and it has been designed keeping in mind the autonomous technology that the iNext will come fitted with when it arrives in 2021.  

As seen in the picture, the motorsport-inspired steering wheel has an almost flat top and bottom rim while the side gets rounded proportions. The advantage of this geometry is to easily figure out the steering angle based on the position of the wheel compared to the circular-shaped wheel. Also, the polygonal geometry is ideal for the highly automated driving mode as well as the conventional driving setup, according to the Bavarian carmaker. Apart from that, the steering wheel's unique contours optimises entry and seating comfort as well as providing an enhanced view of the curved instrument cluster, says BMW.

What's more, there are optical fibres integrated into the side sections of the steering wheel. These fibres help in informing the driver of the availability of automated driving functions by the use of coloured signals. It can also indicate situations where the driver is required to take over active control of the vehicle themselves. 

After the Curved Display and the new steering wheel, we expect many more teasers before BMW takes the covers off the iNext. Set to hit the streets in 2021, the iNext will join the bandwagon of other electric SUVs such as Audi e-tron, Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model X and Mercedes-Benz EQC.