Steering wheels head in a sleeker direction

Drivers have become accustomed to touch screens replacing knobs atop the center stack, but steering wheels still have clunky buttons and rollers. To get away from that, auto designers are looking to integrate higher tech switches for the steering wheel that perform like an iPhone and offer increased functionality, which has tasked suppliers with re-imagining steering wheels. Joyson Safety Systems, for example, is proposing a single-piece, gapless steering wheel cover that will allow automakers to add touch-based, multifunction controls while eliminating buttons, stalks and other levers that clutter the area in front of drivers. Suppliers indicate that by integrating controls into the steering wheels as they are manufactured, future versions can be flatter, giving the driver a clearer viewpoint and making for a less obtrusive presence in the interior design.