Here’s a noodle-scratcher. Why did Ferrari just apply for a patent for a car with two steering wheels? A recent filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggests the legendary sports car manufacturer is working on a new cockpit design that would be universal for both right- and left-hand-drive markets, but it also specifically describes choosing steering position as a matter of preference.
But how would that work, and will Ferrari actually go through with the plan?
The Cockpit Has A Dual-Cowl Layout
Ferrari Cowl Steering Wheel PatentFerrari / US Patent and Trademark Office
The patent filing starts out simple enough. Ferrari wants to design a new kind of passenger cabin that entails a separate cockpit for the driver, as well as an identical one for the passenger. This two-pod layout isn’t entirely new to the automaker, as the lovely Monza SP2 demonstrates. However, while the Monza’s occupants could hold hands under the separating bodywork, the latest patent seems to describe two completely separate cockpits.
The filing spends most of its time describing a steering control system with a Formula 1–style yoke that extends and retracts into the dashboard. The tiller also has built-in control paddles that can retract or fold into the wheel, a departure from Ferrari’s norm of column-mounted shift paddles. That leads us to suspect that this new patent may pertain to a vehicle without any gears, namely an EV, but with a more exotic form factor than the unfortunate-looking Luce.
The steering yoke and control paddles are integrated into a single unit, which can fold down 90 degrees to ease cockpit access not unlike a Genesis patent from a few years ago. However, it also seems that the steering system’s modular flexibility could also provide another function altogether.
Ferrari Folding Steering Wheel PatentFerrari / United States Patent and Trademark Office
Why Two Steering Wheels?
After describing the driver’s cockpit, the patent then does a little copy-paste action to give this theoretical car an identical space for the passenger. Ferrari even wants there to be a separate steering assembly for this second seating position. That could be why the F1-style wheel folds flat, allowing the entire column to slide sideways into the lap of the passenger – er, other driver.
In its patent, the automaker says that the reason for such a mechanism would be to allow owners to decide which position they want to sit in for the particular drive, although why they might want to do that is a bit puzzling. It could be handy for some border crossings, like entering the United Kingdom from Europe and seamlessly switching the driving position to match surrounding traffic. It also might prove to be an advantage in racing, allowing the driver to sit closer to a challenging apex to nail turn-in.
It might also be a boon on long road rallies or grand tours, allowing the driver and passenger to split piloting duties for maximum efficiency. And then it could always just be an oddball party trick intended to wow onlookers at Supercar Sunday or the Goodwood Festival of Speed..
Other Cars With Two Cockpits
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The Italdesign Aztec had a similar design, although the passenger-side “steering wheel” was actually a grab handle that framed a sophisticated vehicle controller and monitor. Still, it separated the driver and passenger into two unique volumes, separated by a bridge of bodywork and canopy glass – though still open over the center console.
Aston Martin also dabbled in the design scheme with the V12 Speedster, an exceedingly rare and valuable version of the Vantage with an open roof and two seats separated by center bodywork. Again, however, an open center console connected the two seating areas.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
The Ferrari patent describes a rather complex system, but we suspect the automaker has a plan to make it viable – if only for a few-off run of special supercars. It would make perfect sense for a high-dollar EV, especially since those vestigial paddles could be used to control a KERS or launch control system. It’d also add some visual drama to the design, which we suspect Ferrari might appreciate given the tepid response the Luce received – record-breaking auction sale notwithstanding.
We hope to learn more as soon as possible, because the split-cockpit, dual-steering design is just too weird for words.
