Does anyone know why Toyota put the white bit on the steering wheel, in particular why that shape ? The reason I ask is that the new Hyundai Ioniq electric has a very similar shape, split in two vertically, that operate as paddles to increase or decrease the amount of regenerative braking and I was wondering if Toyota had a similar idea then dropped it. Hyundai IONIQ All-Electric Hatchback | Hyundai UK
Not that I know of. It just looks like a normal 3-spoke steering wheel. As far as steering wheel design go, a 3-spoke in modern times is treated as a "sporty" steering wheel while a 4-spoke design (and occasionally 2-spoke but rarely) is more for the "luxury" vehicle. I suppose to goes back to the 60s with the 3-spoke wooden steering wheels on British sports cars (which we know the Japanese copied in design) Side note: It's weird that the Gen 4's steering wheel isn't flat bottomed (if it's supposed to be sporty like marketing suggests. The reason is that the Gen 3's steering wheel is subtly flat-bottomed)
I don't mind the white on the wheel, But all the rest of the white was to much. Love all the wheel buttons.
Note that you can buy the accessories for the steering wheel........ but you have to get it off Amazon.co.jp. e.g. Here's a photo from that same link above Note that you can't use the two "wing" inserts because we have buttons for the bluetooth phone, voice command, DRCC and LDW.
I love the paddles on the Volt and Hyundai steering wheels for regen. It would make driving the Prius more fun. I guess it would be a risk for the Prius' reliability?
It looks like this is the link amazon.co.jp/dp/B01LY4MHPR?th=1 but can't get it to be shipped to US Only person on ebay willing to sell is expensive especially if you have to get rid of the wing tips Toyota Prius 50 steering panel 3 black carbon | eBay I don't know japanese very well (google translate can only help so much) found this http://item.rakuten.co.jp/carkleid/pat0501593/
