A collection of current patent filings point out Toyota could also be contemplating bringing its steer-by-wire system to the U.S.

The automaker is launching steer-by-wire together with a steering yoke on the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e electrical crossover in sure markets. However Lexus confirmed in February that these options will not be accessible within the U.S. for now, however will likely be provided right here at an unspecified future date. 4 patent functions revealed by the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on April 27 trace that this date may come sooner quite than later.

2023 Lexus RZ 450e

Whereas there isn’t any set correlation between patent filings and manufacturing timing, patenting a brand new function is a part of the method of bringing it to market. Whereas automakers generally go away patented concepts on the shelf, on this case Lexus has really mentioned plans to carry steer-by-wire to the U.S.

One patent software was titled “steer-by-wire steering system” that covers the general system, two functions have been filed for “steering management system” that describe a controller that meters energy to an electrical motor that gives steering torque, and a fourth software was for “steering management system, car energy supply system, and car” that describes use of an auxiliary energy supply for the steering motor.

2023 Lexus RZ 450e

Steer-by-wire eliminates the bodily connection of the steering wheel to the wheels, and as a substitute makes use of electrically managed motors to steer the wheels and supply suggestions to the driving force. An auxiliary energy supply is used for redundancy in case the principle energy supply to the electrical wheels is interrupted.

Steer-by-wire will not change typical steering, Lexus has mentioned, and the U.S. model additionally reportedly will not be referred to as One Movement Grip, or OMG, as it’s in Europe. The system is deliberate to launch there as an possibility in 2025.

In the meantime, the 2023 Lexus RZ 450e is arriving in U.S. showrooms with typical rack-and-pinion steering with electrical help, the identical {hardware} used within the associated 2023 Toyota bZ4X.