ZF’s New Airbag Design Could Change Steering Wheels Forever

For decades, airbags have been positioned in the center of all steering wheels, but ZF has just unveiled a new steering wheel airbag that deploys from the top side of the wheel, allowing for more design freedom.

The new steering wheel and airbag have been created by ZF Lifetec, the company’s passive safety systems division. In the event of a crash, the airbag deploys from the top of the wheel and extends below the upper steering wheel rim towards the driver. The automotive supplier says this new design doesn’t compromise safety and opens up a world of possibilities for the central hub of a steering wheel.

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The first wheel by ZF Lifetec with this new airbag consists of a single gloss black panel running across the center of the wheels. It has a seamless, uncluttered design, and like most cars, the buttons for the horn are still positioned in the center. Car companies could take this concept further. For example, force-sensitive controls could be incorporated into the steering wheel, or a screen could be placed in the wheel where the airbag once resided.

In addition, ZF says its new wheel can be combined with hands-on detection under the leather, which determines if a driver is touching or safely gripping the wheel.

ZF hasn’t said if its new steering wheel airbag design is ready for production nor when new cars could start to feature airbags that deploy out of the top of a steering wheel rather than the center. Nevertheless, we’re sure this development will excite automotive interior designers keen to eliminate bulbous steering wheels.