Crowded streets, lackage of car parks, sharp turns, long car, made automakers to make a creativity to reduces the radius of turnings. Although rear-wheel steering wasn’t invented just yesterday, but nowadays many cars are using this option on their cars. Just like as Mercedes does. Now this German company is expanding this technology not just on its Electric cars, but also for the internal combustion vehicles too.
The flagship cars of Mercedes have already this kind of technology. The latest S-Class and EQS bot can have benefits. Already, EQS can turn the rear wheels up to 4.5 degrees as a standard feature. Now by optional feature, this angel can be extended to 10- degrees. Of course, it is available in U.S. market as a standard feature. Using this technology means 10.9 meters turning circle. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction and helps the tuning in less radius. Mercedes said:
"An electric motor drives a spindle at the rear axle via a drive belt. This makes axial adjustments to the spindle."
In Germany the situation is some how not the same as America. At the homeland, the EQS has the lesser configuration of RWS. If you want the 10-degree turn, you should pay for it. the EQS has the technology on it, but its locked and by paying €489 annually it will be unlocked. The update can be done by the OTA and the software activates the rear-wheel turn. It seems companies has started to get the customers cars as hostages to give backup and support. Not a good way to make money.
By the way, other complete package with the 360-degree camera can be ordered for S-Class. It is important thar the size of tires should be the same, otherwise this package is useless. For having this option, you need just two minutes downloading and running it, then switch the car on again, and here it is, the rear-wheel turn.
Tacking advantage of technology is not some thing new. Before Mercedes other car makers like VW did the same and charged its customers for $8 for using one hour of autonomous driving tech.