- Polygon previews what the next Peugeot 208 could be like
- French company says steer-by-wire technology will arrive in 2027
- Interchangeable interior seats would allow for greater customization
Peugeot has launched its latest highly futuristic concept car that aims to give us a glimpse of the hatchbacks of tomorrow.
Dubbed Polygon, the wild design studio evokes elements of the company’s sportier past, such as the 205 GTi (an icon of the ’80s and ’90s), while transporting us to the future with gullwing doors, next-generation head-up displays and a square steering wheel.
The ‘Hypersquare’, as Peugeot calls it, is a look at upcoming steer-by-wire technology arriving in 2027. Instead of a mechanical link between the steering wheel and front axle, the steering is handled by software.
Tesla introduced a similar system in its Cybertruck, which allowed for much faster steering ratios at lower speeds, making it much easier to maneuver the massive truck in tight spaces.
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Peugeot has taken the idea a step further, as its diamond-shaped innovation allows for a much better view of the instrument panel. That’s a good thing, because the French brand plans to use that area as a projector to transmit infotainment data to the windshield. No more massive touch screens.
This next generation of Peugeot’s iCockpit is said to offer the equivalent of a 31-inch screen projected directly onto the windshield that will alter its information depending on the driving mode selected. In addition to this, the micro-LEDs behind the Hypersquare steering wheel are visible from outside the vehicle, allowing animations to be displayed to passers-by.
Getting in and out of the low, wide three-door vehicle is made easier thanks to the gull-wing doors, which open upwards and create a gaping chasm for both driver and passengers to climb into the back.
The seats, which are made from three recyclable components, feature foam that can be changed in minutes, allowing future customers to personalize the interior of their car whenever they want.
Hip to be square
Peugeot won’t give details on what would eventually power the Polygon-based production car, but Autocar reports that the new 208 will be the first car to be based on parent company Stellantis’ STLA Small architecture.
That model wasn’t planned with internal combustion engines in mind, as it sports battery packs ranging from 37kWh to 82kWh, which promise far greater range than those found in the current-generation e-208.
Whatever comes from Polygon, it will be electric, and the French brand is holding firm when it comes to steer-by-wire technology, an innovation it says can greatly alter a vehicle’s driving dynamics with the push of a button and reduces the vibration and harshness that comes from having a physical link between the front wheels and the driver.
Mercedes-Benz is also busy exploring the technology, with the company releasing details of its futuristic yoke earlier this year.
Of course, Tesla owners have been able to drive with a steering yoke since it was first introduced on the Model S and Model
What’s more, there was a backlash against the oddly shaped steering wheel in many markets, forcing Tesla to revert to a standard steering wheel.
Despite having major players like Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz behind the technology, drivers are still likely to take some getting used to.
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