Steering Wheel Design Question

[Shel_B]

I'm seeing more and more wheels with the design feature shown in the image below. What's the point of that feature? Just a design element or does it serve some function?

 

[supton]

I know race cars sometimes do that, lets the driver know when it's facing up.

Bu I've not seen that in cars? I don't shop often, so I miss a lot.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Visual queue for the direction the wheels are pointing. It's used in rally/racing/autox applications.


Obviously the automakers can and have made steering wheels with this feature for sale for some of their HP models. I have no idea how effective it is.

 

[Pew]

It lets me know the steering wheel isn't upside down.

 

[PF52]

Because Race Car.

 

[PontiacHO]

Racing….
Go into a spin the driver needs the reference point on the steering wheel to indicate that wheels are now straight.

 

[SHOZ]

Mines got a flat bottom for low riding.....

 

[KrisZ]

If a professional race car needs it, so does your grocery getter.

 

[bdcardinal]

On NASCAR cars of all levels they not only have the mark at the top, but marks on either side letting the driver know how to orient the wheel to allow the front tires to be removed faster on a pit stop.

 

[Shel_B]

Thanks for all the input. Some useful information here.