Experience the Next Level Technology, the e-Corner System, Developed by Hyundai Mobis

In a demonstration video, the system is shown on an Ioniq 5 doing four impressive maneuvers. The key to the system is the steering angle, which allows for all four wheels to be turned 90 degrees. The first maneuver shown is a crab walk from left to right. The second maneuver is a zero turn, in which the front and rear wheels turn opposite of each other — the front wheels turn in towards each other while the rear wheels turn outward away from each other — to perform a perfect, spin-in-place turn. The next maneuver is a diagonal turn in which all four wheels turn the same direction at an angle, almost like a faster form of crab walking. The final maneuver is a pivot turn. This has the rear wheels turn 90 degrees opposite of each other to swing the back of the vehicle around.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Image for article titled Hyundai’s New Steering System May Make Parking Jobs Way Easier
Screenshot: Hyundai Mobis YouTube

While Hyundai hasn’t said whether or not it plans to bring this brilliant piece of tech into production, nor has the company released any technical details on it, a close inspection of the video highlights something interesting. Mainly, each wheel seems to be powered by what looks to be its own motor or steering system, allowing for independent movement of each wheel.

Packard Self-Parking Car - 1933

While it would be great to have this tech on a production vehicle, it’s not the first time that something like this has been thought of. In the 1930s, Packard created a fifth wheel concept vehicle which featured a wheel at the back of the vehicle that, at the pull of a dash mounted lever, would drop down out of a continental kit and allow the vehicle’s rear to swing around into a desired spot.