Patent ID: 7549649

Claim:
A vehicle comprising a passenger compartment having a steering wheel operated by the driver to steer the vehicle; a central control unit which supervises operation of active components of the vehicle, and modifies the operating parameters of the active components to modify the dynamic performance of the vehicle; and a selection device which is located inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, is operated by the driver to transmit a selected dynamic performance of the vehicle to the central control unit, and comprises a switch fitted to the steering wheel of the vehicle and rotatable between at least four different positions, each corresponding to a respective dynamic performance of the vehicle; wherein the switch can be rotated into a first position wherein the dynamic performance of the vehicle is set to drive on low-grip road surfaces, a second position wherein the dynamic performance of the vehicle is set to drive on low-grip road surfaces in sport driving mode, a third position wherein the dynamic performance of the vehicle is set to drive on firm-grip road surfaces in sport driving mode, and a fourth position wherein the dynamic performance of the vehicle is set to drive in safe conditions in touring driving mode; and wherein the switch can be set to a fifth position wherein the dynamic performance of the vehicle is set to track racing mode which disables the electronic driver-aid devices.