Tesla’s latest model announcements may have come with a side of clickbait.
When the updated Model S and X were unveiled last week, their standout feature was a yoke-style handlebars with no control levers. The unusual design had previously been shown on several Tesla prototypes, but never used in a production model. Needless to say, it’s getting a lot of attention in the auto press.
Tesla’s website says it offers “the ultimate focus on driving: no stems, no shifting. Model S is the best car to drive and the best car to drive.”
Elon Musk explained that the cars can “guess” which direction you want to go, and the transmission selector has been moved to the central touchscreen display for when you absolutely must use it. The vehicles will also be offered with Tesla’s optional Full Self-Driving Capability, which currently offers some level of active driving assistance but will eventually be able to drive fully autonomously, Musk said.
The ‘wheel’ has sparked interest from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which said it contacted Tesla for more information.
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However, it may not be the only one available. By modifying the source code of an image of the interior of the Tesla consumer website, automotive outlet The Drive discovered that an alternate image was hidden on the website depicting it with a traditional round wheel.
It still lacks stems, and the buttons on the spokes, which apparently control the turn signals, horn and lights, look the same as the ones on the yoke.
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Following reporting of its discovery, the image was completely removed by Tesla, who has not commented on the disclosure. Currently, there is no mention of a steering wheel on the reservations page, advertising that the first deliveries will begin in March, although Musk said production is already underway and deliveries will start in February.