Rear-wheel steering isn't a new technology as it has been around for decades, with the Nissan R31 Skyline pioneering the system back in 1985. That said, Mercedes has managed to take it to a whole new level with its flagship combustion and electric cars as the latest S-Class and EQS boast the most advanced version ever fitted to a production car.
As standard, the rear wheels have a steering angle of up to 4.5 degrees, but both the S-Class and EQS come with an optional feature increasing the angle to 10 degrees. In the case of the EV, the turning circle drops to 10.9 meters (35.7 feet), which is mighty impressive for such a large car. It turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) to reduce the turning circle. Above that velocity, all four wheels turn in the same direction to improve stability and sharpen up handling.
How does it work? According to Mercedes: "An electric motor drives a spindle at the rear axle via a drive belt. This makes axial adjustments to the spindle."
