this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2026
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Technology
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Had to look up the Edsel to see what a shifter in the middle of the steering wheel would look like.
On the next car I design, the shifter will be located in the trunk. Just to keep things interesting.
I wish we had more variation in car designs but I suppose it would make licencing difficult. I'd like it if we could drive with foot pedals, push down to accelerate and twist left and right to turn like how it works on an aircraft. Then you could drive hands-free.
The only thing nuttier might be door release handles under the floor mats.
So you own a Tesla, I see.
Nah, but the crash after which four people burned to death while talking to the 911 dispatcher because they couldn't open the doors happened just outside my city.
I've been in cars with electronic doors and the emergency latch is always super obvious, brightly coloured, and in one case glowed in the dark. For some reason Tesla feel the need to hide it.
How about sticking it somewhere between the engine and transmission? When operating it in the winter, your fingers would stay nice and warm.
I mean ... I don't hate it...
Half of cars today have push-button shifters anyway, and the steering wheel is kind of a fun and novel place to put them.
It’s definitely more intriguing than my boring airbag steering wheel.
I've been driving for years and I've never used my airbag even once. What a waste of money.