In the realm of automotive innovation, the steering wheel might seem like a static element, a given in every car. However, at Mercedes-Benz, this crucial interface between driver and machine has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a rudimentary steering crank to a sophisticated, digital command center. As a content creator for benzxentry.store and an expert in automotive repair, I’m excited to delve into the fascinating history of the Mercedes-Benz steering wheel, a journey marked by relentless innovation, safety enhancements, and a pursuit of the ultimate driving experience.
The story begins not with a wheel, but with a lever. The earliest automobiles, like Carl Benz’s 1886 Patent Motorwagen and Gottlieb Daimler’s 1889 “steel wheel car,” lacked steering wheels entirely. These pioneering vehicles relied on simple steering levers or cranks, a carryover from horse-drawn carriages where reins guided the animals. This system, while functional for its time, offered limited control and precision, particularly as vehicle speeds began to increase.
Alt: 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen, an early automobile without a steering wheel, highlighting the primitive steering lever system.
The winds of change arrived in 1894, at the world’s first automobile race from Paris to Rouen. French engineer Alfred Vacheron dared to replace the traditional steering lever in his Panhard & Levassor, powered by a Daimler engine, with a revolutionary steering wheel. Vacheron’s ingenuity paid off. The steering wheel allowed for a greater degree of control, distributing steering movement over multiple turns of the steering column. This innovation enabled more precise handling and, consequently, higher driving speeds. Although Vacheron himself only finished 11th, his steering wheel concept was a resounding success, proving its superiority and paving the way for its widespread adoption.
Alt: Alfred Vacheron’s 1894 Panhard & Levassor race car, showcasing the early adoption of the steering wheel for improved vehicle control.
By 1900, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft recognized the steering wheel’s potential and incorporated it into their Phoenix racing car. This model also featured a tilted steering column, significantly improving driver ergonomics and ease of operation. However, early steering systems still demanded considerable physical effort. The Mercedes Simplex models, introduced in 1902, took driver control a step further by integrating levers directly onto the steering wheel. These levers controlled crucial engine functions like ignition timing and air/fuel mixture, placing even more command at the driver’s fingertips.
Alt: Close-up of a 1902 Mercedes Simplex steering wheel, demonstrating the integration of levers for engine function control, enhancing driver interaction.
As engine technology progressed, the need for manual fuel mixture and ignition adjustments diminished. However, one early steering wheel function endured and remains essential today: the horn. From early bulb horns mounted on the steering wheel rim to Klaxon horn buttons on the hub, and the horn ring debuting in the 1920s, audible signaling became an integral part of driving communication. The horn ring, a standard feature until the 1970s, even evolved to incorporate turn signal functionality in 1949, using semaphore-like indicator arms that extended from the vehicle’s side.
Alt: A 1949 Mercedes-Benz 170 V steering wheel featuring a prominent horn ring, which also served as the control for early turn signal indicators.
The 1950s marked a pivotal decade for steering wheel evolution. In 1951, Mercedes-Benz introduced the column gearshift in the 300 “Adenauer-Mercedes” (W 186) and 220 (W 187) models. This innovation, relocating the gearshift from the floor to the steering column, improved comfort, especially in vehicles with bench seats accommodating multiple front passengers. The column gearshift remained a popular feature until the 1970s and made a comeback in 2005 with the DIRECT SELECT automatic selector lever, freeing up valuable center console space. Further enhancing driver convenience, a lever for the headlamp flasher was added in 1955. Recognizing the increasing demands of steering, Mercedes-Benz introduced power steering in the 300 sedan in 1958, making maneuvering significantly easier.
Alt: The steering column of a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 “Adenauer”, highlighting the innovative column gearshift lever for enhanced driver and passenger comfort.
Safety became a paramount concern in the 1960s. The 1959 “Fintail” (W 111) Mercedes-Benz revolutionized automotive safety with its integrated safety concept, including a groundbreaking safety steering wheel. This innovative design featured a large, deformable baffle plate to cushion impacts and a split steering column offset to the rear, mitigating the dangerous “lance effect” of rigid steering columns in frontal collisions. Mercedes-Benz further enhanced safety in 1967 by standardizing a patented safety steering system with a telescopic steering column and impact absorber across its passenger car range. The “Fintail” also debuted the first combined lever in 1959, integrating indicator and headlight flasher functions, followed by the addition of windshield wiper and washer controls in 1963, consolidating multiple controls into a single, user-friendly lever.
Alt: The safety steering wheel of a 1959 Mercedes-Benz “Fintail”, showcasing the deformable baffle plate designed to reduce driver injury in collisions.
The pursuit of safety continued into the 1970s and 1980s. The four-spoke safety steering wheel, introduced with the 350 SL Roadster in 1971, offered improved impact protection with a wide padded plate and impact absorber. The spokes were engineered to absorb and distribute collision forces, preventing the steering wheel rim from fracturing. The horn ring was phased out, and horn buttons were relocated to the steering wheel’s center. Comfort features also advanced, with the Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 becoming one of the first vehicles equipped with cruise control as standard in 1975. In 1998, Mercedes-Benz pioneered radar-supported DISTRONIC proximity control, debuting in the S-Class (220 series), further enhancing driving safety and convenience.
Alt: A four-spoke safety steering wheel from a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL Roadster, emphasizing enhanced impact protection and relocated horn buttons.
A monumental leap in steering wheel design occurred in 1981 with the introduction of the driver airbag in the S-Class (126 series). Concealed behind a larger baffle plate, the airbag represented an unprecedented level of collision safety. While early airbags were bulky, subsequent development led to more compact designs, giving designers greater freedom. Driver airbags became standard across all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars in 1992, with passenger airbags following in 1994. These airbags inflate to a substantial 720 millimeters in diameter and 64 liters in volume within a mere 30 milliseconds upon impact, providing crucial occupant protection.
Alt: The steering wheel of a 1981 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, featuring the pioneering driver-side airbag system, a major advancement in automotive safety.
The digital revolution reached the steering wheel in 1998 with the advent of the multifunction steering wheel, coinciding with the introduction of the COMAND (Cockpit Management and Data) system. This innovation addressed the increasing complexity of vehicle functions and the integration of new infotainment systems. The multifunction steering wheel in the S-Class 220 allowed drivers to control numerous systems and access vital information without removing their hands from the wheel. For the first time, the steering wheel became integrated with the car radio, car phone, and a central instrument cluster display, offering unprecedented control and information access.
Alt: A 1998 Mercedes-Benz S-Class multifunction steering wheel, marking the beginning of integrated control for infotainment and vehicle systems.
In 2005, Mercedes-Benz reintroduced steering wheel gearshift functionality in the M-Class and S-Class models with redesigned cockpits. The DIRECT SELECT gearshift moved the automatic selector lever back to the steering column, simplifying operation and freeing up center console space. Steering wheel gearshift buttons allowed manual gear preselection, enabling drivers to optimize the performance of powerful engines in various driving situations. From 2008, the SL Roadster offered the 7G-TRONIC sports transmission with steering wheel gearshift paddles, further enhancing driver engagement and control.
Alt: The steering wheel of a 2005 Mercedes-Benz M-Class, showcasing the reintroduced steering wheel gearshift buttons for manual transmission control.
Steering wheel design also underwent a visual evolution. From early polygonal shapes, designs transitioned to geometric forms with circular centers and flowing spoke shapes. As more technology was integrated, steering wheels became bulkier in the 2000s to accommodate cables, circuit boards, and sensors. However, refinement remained a key focus, with designs becoming increasingly elegant and ergonomic over time.
The 2016 E-Class marked another technological leap, becoming the world’s first car to feature touch-sensitive Touch Control buttons on the steering wheel. These buttons allowed drivers to control the entire infotainment system with finger swipes, mirroring smartphone interaction and minimizing driver distraction. Responding to horizontal and vertical swiping motions, these touch controls provided intuitive and logical access to infotainment functions, complemented by dedicated buttons for frequently used functions like volume and telephone control.
Alt: The innovative touch control steering wheel in a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, demonstrating seamless infotainment system control via touch-sensitive buttons.
The latest generation of Mercedes-Benz steering wheels, launched in the E-Class in 2020, embraces capacitive technology for hands-off detection. A two-zone sensor mat embedded in the steering wheel rim registers hand grip, eliminating the need for steering movement to confirm driver control to assistance systems. The Touch Control buttons are also capacitive, minimizing mechanical surfaces and creating seamless, flush control panels. This technology, similar to smartphone screens, ensures intuitive operation through swiping and pressing, even in high-temperature environments.
Alt: The capacitive steering wheel of a 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, featuring touch-sensitive controls and hands-off detection for advanced driver assistance systems.
Throughout this evolution, Mercedes-Benz has remained dedicated to achieving “perfect proportions” in steering wheel design. As Hans-Peter Wunderlich, Creative Director Interior Design at Mercedes-Benz, aptly states, “The steering wheel rim is the secret kingmaker of a steering wheel.” The geometric design and haptic feel are meticulously engineered to ensure a comfortable and confident grip, recognizing the steering wheel as a primary point of physical connection between driver and vehicle. This dedication to haptic excellence reflects the Mercedes-Benz philosophy of Sensual Purity, harmonizing high technology with emotional appeal.
In conclusion, the Mercedes-Benz steering wheel has journeyed from a basic steering lever to a highly sophisticated, technologically advanced command center. Each era has brought significant advancements in control, safety, and driver convenience, reflecting Mercedes-Benz’s unwavering commitment to innovation and the ultimate driving experience. As technology continues to evolve, the Mercedes-Benz steering wheel will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of automotive design, seamlessly blending cutting-edge functionality with unparalleled ergonomic excellence.
