- Peugeot should unveil an overview of the next 208, nicknamed Polygon
- The model is reported to make its debut on the brand’s hypersquare steering wheel
- Pas by wire technology means that the wheel can be square
Peugeot should unveil a new concept car in November which will preview the third generation 208 – the best -selling tailgate of the brand.
According to Autocar, the concept of polygon, as it is called, will start the brand’s futuristic hypersquare steering wheel, which should also contain in any production model that the concept will appear.
Thanks to the steering technology by wire, which deletes a physical connection between the steering column and the front wheels, the French brand can mainly introduce a Yoke style wheel similar to those seen for the first time on Tesla Model S and the X model.
The French brand says that the hypersquare steering wheel will be part of “the next step in the saga of i-Cockpit”, which is the name given to the enveloping infotainment network of Peugeot.
Peugeot CEO Alain Favey told Autocar that the polygon concept car will have a 21-inch “floating” screen, and that the smallest wheel would give Futures Peugeots a unique driving sensation.
We don’t know much about the hypersquare wheel, only that Peugeot says that it will be exploited by “gestures” and that it will be “reminding some of a video game controller”.
An article published by the company in June 2024, shortly after the single steering wheel made its debut on the concept of creation of 2023, says that the steering wheel will be installed on a production vehicle from 2026, which is well linked to the big announcement of November.
Analysis: an innovation too far?
The rumors of the Peugeot polygon would have previewed a sporty hot hatch which will be the first to use the small Stellantis Stla platform, which is very likely to be offered in fully electric and hybrid options when it is ultimately put up for sale.
Anxious to position yourself as a leader in technology in the Stelllantis brands portfolio, the PEUGEOT longtime i-cockpit longtime, but is not the most intuitive to use.
After spending time with the E-5008, which sees twin screens in front of the driver and haptic touch surfaces to control a large part of the infotainment, I can attest to the way the operation of some of these functions can be.
In addition, Peugeot seeks to present a hypersquare steering wheel at a time when there has been a general reaction against Wilder automobile innovations, in particular those which only serve to distract the driver.
Tesla’s yoke, for example, was removed in the basic models of S and X because many owners hated what he felt, some even indicating that he was dangerous to use.
Peugeot’s execution could be better, but it also threatens gesture controls and new intuitive ways to interact with the square wheel. More often than not, these can cause more problems than they solve it.
