Why Lexus Abandoned the Physical Link Between Steering Wheel and Tires

Lexus is introducing a steering yoke in the RZ 450e that avoids the pitfalls of Tesla's design. By replacing the mechanical steering column with an electronic steer-by-wire system, Lexus aims to redefine vehicle control. This video examines the engineering behind this shift and whether electronic steering can truly be trusted.

The Lexus RZ 450e features a steer-by-wire system, meaning no physical connection exists between the steering wheel and the steering rack. Instead, all inputs are transmitted electronically. This design choice is intended to address the significant negative feedback surrounding Tesla's implementation of a steering yoke.

The video explores the mechanics of this technology, its potential advantages, and the safety and reliability concerns inherent in removing mechanical linkages. It also investigates the specific drawbacks of the Lexus system compared to traditional setups, providing a technical comparison between the two approaches to yoke-based steering.

Source: How Lexus Fixed Tesla's Bad Idea: Steer-By-Wire Yoke