SHIMOYAMA, Japan -- Lexus confirmed it will offer steer-by-wire in Europe by late next year, starting with the RZ midsize crossover.
The company said Toyota models equipped with steer-by-wire would arrive to Europe starting in 2025. The first Toyota with the technology is likely to be the bZ4X, which is the RZ's sibling.
Steer-by-wire was pioneered by Nissan's premium subsidiary, Infiniti, in Europe a decade ago on the Q50 midsize sedan.
Despite the solution's advantages -- such as a big reduction in the number of moving parts in a vehicle, less weight and better fuel economy -- its high cost contributed a low uptake. Steer-by-wire was a 1,000 euro option on the Q50.
Another hindrance to steer-by-wire's adaption was the high level of mechanical redundancies European regulators demanded a decade ago.
Today, the EU requires steer-by-wire systems have two electric motors and two control units. That way if one e-motor or one control unit fails there is a backup.
Previously, lawmakers wanted three control units, two motors and a mechanical steering column that would have been automatically engaged if two of the three control units failed.
No more steering column
Another key advantage of a steer-by-wire system is that the steering wheel is no longer mechanically connected to the wheels because the steering column is no longer needed.
Sensors on the steering wheel send impulses to an electric motor that steers the wheels. This translates in more comfort because the steering wheel no longer transmits bumps to the driver's arms. The solution also provides more precision because the steering action varies according to speed and road type.
Lexus offered a test of a Japanese market RZ equipped with steer-by-wire on parent Toyota's proving grounds here, near Nagoya, last month.
The model is equipped with the second generation steer-by-wire system, which allows the Lexus to deliver a steering angle of 200 degrees, compared with 180 degrees for the first generation.
The yoke-style steering wheel worked smoothly, delivering the same feedback a driver would expect from a car with a steering column.
Compared with the Infiniti Q50's traditional circular steering wheel, the Lexus' more rectangular shaped steering wheel offers better visibility of the instrument panel.
Toyota said that starting with the bZ4X, all of its cars' instrument panels have been designed to complement the rectangular shape of the steering wheel.
