Jaguar Land Rover is to provide a glimpse of its vision of the luxury car sector’s future when later this week it unveils Sayer an artificially intelligent steering wheel that could be used as part of a car-sharing club.
“The connected steering wheel could be the only part of the car you own,” JLR said of Sayer, ahead of the launch at its first ever Tech Fest, due to take place in central London.
Sayer, which works like Apple's Siri or Amazon Alexa, comes with a voice-activated artificial intelligence system. Since the steering wheel can store all personal settings, drivers can move it between cars and have their configurations automatically adjusted. The closest thing to the Sayer is a Formula 1 steering wheel which is detachable.
The Tata Motors-owned company intends to showcase at the fair some of the latest technology options it is exploring. The steering wheel will be featured on a new concept vehicle that will debut at the exhibition.
Named after Malcolm Sayer, a prominent Jaguar designer in the 1950s and the 1960s, Sayer will be the automaker’s latest contribution to its vision of an autonomous, connected and electric future.
“Imagine a future of autonomous, connected and electric cars where you don’t own a single car, but instead call upon the vehicle of our choice where and when you need it,” suggested JLR on Monday. The wheel could be used as a virtual personal assistant, planning a journey and a person’s routine in advance. It could be used either as part of an on-demand service that ensures people have access to a suitable vehicle or for a sole-owned car.
Other conceptsThe company in June showcased a Range Rover Sport prototype capable of navigating autonomously through a city. JLR described it as a move towards “level-four” autonomy, that is, vehicles capable of driving in specific environments without intervention.