There should be a Steering Wheel Appreciation Day, and here's why

To many of us, a steering wheel is something of utmost importance. More than just turning where we want it to go, it is a source of interaction and dialogue between road and car. Yet, the steering wheel is probably the least thought of bit in the cockpit (ironic, since it's right there in front of us).

Thus, the steering wheel sets the tone for a great cabin ambience. So, we want to take a moment to appreciate the steering wheel. This also gives us the opportunity to geek out, detail its evolution through the decades and share with you, which ones hold a special place in our motoring fantasies.

The early days

At the very beginning, steering wheels were nothing more than a contraption that enabled one to turn the wheel on an automobile. It was more often than not, quite large, round in shape and usually made out of wood. Before that, an even more primitive invention was used to turn the wheels of an automobile, called a tiller.

No one can truly pinpoint accurately who, or which company was the first to arrive at using a steering wheel on an automobile. All they knew at the time was that, to effect direction change (probably from one too many unwanted off-road excursions), a solution was needed and thus the tiller - and latterly, the steering wheel - was born.

Time went on, and improvements were gradually made. Steering wheels became smaller, nicer to hold, made of better, more durable and higher quality materials. Today, a steering wheel's basic design and layout is pretty locked down. It's usually wrapped in leather, or alcantara, is either round of flat-bottomed (can you still call it a wheel if it's not perfectly round?), has a relatively small diameter, and is festooned with buttons (now, even capacitive ones). Speaking of which....

Too complex today?

As the automotive world progressed, so did steering wheels. Far from being just a instrument to turn your front wheels (and now, even the rear wheels), they've become a central command centre to the major controls of your car. From infotainment toggles to setting your cruise control, the steering wheel does it all. But carmakers choose to embrace it differently.

For example, Ferrari has even gone to town with its interpretation of steering wheels, integrating major controls such as turn signals, headlights, ignition and driving modes, on top of the ability to change gears and housing an airbag. Volkswagen, with its Mk8-generation Golf, has seen it fit to include touch-sensitive controls (yes, touch sensitive!) on its steering wheel.

Whether this is one step too far is debatable. But the whole point of having controls integrated into the wheel is so that your hands stay on the wheel, which is good. But, having an array of buttons or touch-sensitive controls will cause the driver to be driven to the point of distraction (see what I did there?). 

In complete contrast, modern McLaren steering wheels are devoid of any buttons or functionality. This is in line with the belief that steering wheels should be reserved for one purpose only - to steer the front wheels - and nothing else. Some call it lazy, some call it purity, but this is one ideology that I can get behind. 

Be that as it may, mainstream carmakers are going the way of Ferrari (although in a less extreme manner), which is to integrate as much functionality to the steering wheel as it can. Along the way, there have been some quirky executions, but for the most part, the evolution of the steering wheel has been an interesting one. But which are our favourites?

The special ones

Cast your mind back to some of the most evocative steering wheels in memory. Were they multi-functional ones? Probably not. To me at least, the special ones have always been three-spoke, and of the simplest design, yet they exude an evocative air and charm that not many helms can replicate.

Porsche is one such exponent. Have you seen the steering wheel that adorns the 991 911R? It's minimalist, it's beautifully designed and it has just about the most perfect contours that caress your palm and fingers. It's a modern interpretation of an old-school steering wheel. Having said that, Porsche executes its steering design better than most.

Of a more retro twist, how about the wheel of a Honda NSX-R? Made by Momo, one of the most legendary steering wheel makers, this wheel blends with the ethos of the NSX so harmoniously: lightweight, minimalist, and organically designed. A driving environment done to perfection. 

What about a modern variety? Well, I think Audi has nailed the steering in the current Audi RS4 (which can also be found in Audi's cooking models with S-Line trim). It's well-shaped, the buttons don't get in the way and the rim thickness is perfect (unlike modern BMWs, who just overdo it in this aspect). I'm not a big fan of flat-bottomed wheels, but this one hits all the right notes.

Conclusion

It won't be a stretch to say that steering wheels will continue to evolve and change. Whether it's for the better, who knows? All we know is, the evolution of the steering wheel has given us some corkers, and also some duffers.

So, what's in store for the steering wheel in the future? Who knows? With autonomous driving entering the fray, the steering wheel might be rendered obsolote altogether. But, in the meantime, appreciate your steering wheel. Without it, you can only travel in a straight line. Your car wouldn't be of much use then, would it?