Look, no hands

11.06.24: AFTER 120 years, Rolls-Royce has abandoned the steering wheel, the last car manufacturer to do so.

The company has so far refused to consider introducing joysticks, voice-operated controls, even drive-by-wire, saying its exclusive customer base expects a Rolls-Royce to be traditional, not experimental. But a spokesman for BMW, which acquired the company in 2003, says its British subsidiary 'must now admit that the steering wheel and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot are purely cosmetic. Underneath, the Rolls-Royce is like all our cars: 100% BMW no-nonsense, high-tech ­ the whole nine metres.' DL