Ferrari has patented a car with a steering wheel designed for both the driver and the passenger

Ferrari has patented a car with steering wheels for both the driver and the passenger

Ferrari has filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for an unusual car design featuring two separate cockpits and two steering mechanisms.

According to the document, both the driver and the passenger will have their own fully-fledged seat for controlling the car.

However, both steering wheels cannot be used at the same time. The steering mechanism that is not in use can fold by approximately 90 degrees, freeing up space in front of the passenger. Thus, depending on the situation, it becomes possible to control the car from either side.

The steering wheels are designed in the style of a modern Formula 1 car's yoke and are equipped with a sliding rim. Such a design may indicate the use of a steer-by-wire system that has no mechanical connection to the front wheels.

Ferrari is considering several options for using such a system. For example, when traveling from continental Europe to the UK, the driver can quickly change the side of control without having to reconfigure the car. In racing conditions, the driver's position in the center or on the side allows choosing a more comfortable position for navigating tracks with many right or left turns.

Another scenario is long-distance travel. Two fully-fledged control seats allow the driver and passenger to take turns driving the car without stopping and swapping places.