Tesla Model S Redesign: Look Past the Weird Steering Yoke and See the Future

Change is hard, especially for Tesla fans.

After nearly a decade with no major design changes, the electric car maker last month revealed a new Model S interior that rubbed some Tesla owners the wrong way. "There's no way they're actually putting that steering wheel in the car. Right? ....right? Please?" wrote one Reddit user. "Stop trying to make the square steering wheel happen," responded another. On the Accidental Tech Podcast, Casey Liss questioned whether flipping the display from vertical to horizontal would make half of its features inaccessible. "It feels like there's that crap way over on the other side and then there's the crap near me," he said.

It’s not a bad redesign, though. After three years with a Model 3, I wish its 15-inch, center touch screen was getting an upgrade to 17 inches, plus a rear screen for passengers. If it were in my budget, I would upgrade for the interior design changes alone.

Even though its sleek lines, multiple screens, and minimalist dashboard may seem a bit far reaching, the Model S is now set up to last Tesla another 10 years, all in the name of eventually becoming autonomous.

We've seen this before. In 2012, the Model S's 17-inch, vertical touch-screen center console display was thought by some to be too dangerous. But it didn't cause mass accidents or usability problems. Now, as the Model S looks to begin a new era as Tesla’s premium "halo" sedan, it takes its minimalist cues from the more affordable Model 3 and Model Y. The new Model S (and Model X) interior goes far enough to test the enthusiasm of some longtime owners, doing away with traditional air vents and physical buttons, for example. But that also means the Model S returns to getting the newest tech first.

The New Displays

The EV's refreshed interior is a necessary modernization; the previous look has grown stale. The centerpiece of this upgrade is the re-aligned 17-inch screen. Instead of being vertical, it now gets flipped sideways, which puts it in line with the Model 3 and Model Y. 

The consolidation to all-horizontal screens across Tesla's product lineup isn’t just about looks, it’s about advancing software development and allowing for faster deployment of updates. Tesla is a technology company that relies on its software to handle most of its cars’ features and controls, which makes it critical to have as few variants as possible.

One thing Tesla owners love is new software updates. This is obvious on Tesla’s own forums, but especially in the /TeslaMotors subreddit, where owners and lurkers track software rollouts and look for tricks to get the latest software as soon as possible. Some of the delays across different model vehicles are intentional, but in recent years the volume of Model 3s on the road has led Tesla to prioritize its software, designed for a horizontal screen.

This makes sense; Tesla is naturally going to focus on the model with the most users. But if you're paying upward of $70,000 for a Model S, you don't want to wait. Moving to a horizontal screen across the product lineup solves this problem.

It may be worrisome for current and prospective Model S owners, but I love the simplicity and convenience it provides. Even in the Model 3, where there is no screen behind the wheel, the center horizontal screen is functional without being distracting. Sure, it will take a few days to get used to it, but what's a minor adjustment to pivot toward the future?

The Steering Yoke

The steering yoke, not wheel, is an eye-catching addition to the Model S. It’s hard to miss. But even if you like the horizontal screen and other refinements, the yoke may be a bridge too far. 

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It's clear the flat-top yoke's inclusion is another nod at autonomy and a half-step toward not needing any steering mechanism at all. It disappears into the dashboard when retracted, and won’t block the instrument screen when not in use.

Autonomous Teslas are here now—kinda. Fully self-driving Tesla EVs are on the streets today through beta software. The rollout is limited, but at some point, the floodgates will open. To get a sense of what it’s like to be driven by a car, check out the videos on YouTube. You’ll be amazed and terrified at the same time.

You’ll also notice that the common gesture of someone in the driver's seat of an autonomous vehicle is to lift their arms to avoid the wheel, which gets in the way. The Model S's retractable yoke is the best of both worlds, available until it's not needed anymore.

When the Model 3 debuted, there was speculation that the reason the screen was centered was because the wheel would be removable and each front passenger would have a nice spot to sit and watch videos. This half steering wheel is a move in that direction. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that the Model S was designed so the yoke could be easily removed after the fact. Front visibility in my Model 3 is superb, but a steering yoke, or half wheel, would be a worthy addition and help future-proof my investment.

Even if most buyers in 2021 prefer a traditional wheel to the sleek steering yoke, the lens to view this new, redesigned Model S is one of long-term thinking. This is Tesla’s aspirational sedan meant to survive the changes another decade will bring. Especially when those changes toward autonomous driving are being brought on by Tesla itself.