Yes, really – Peugeot’s next concept car will have a square steering wheel that works like a ‘video game controller’

• Peugeot is due to unveil a preview of the upcoming 208, dubbed Polygon
• The model is reported to debut the brand’s Hypersquare steering wheel
• Steer-by-wire tech means the wheel can be square

Peugeot is tipped to unveil a new concept car in November that will preview the third generation 208 – the marque’s best-selling hatchback.

According to Autocar, the Polygon concept, as it is known, will debut the marque’s futuristic Hypersquare steering wheel, which is also slated to feature in any production model that the concept will spawn.

Thanks to steer-by-wire technology, which does away with a physical connection between the steering column and the front wheels, the French marque can essentially introduce a yoke-style wheel akin to those first seen on Tesla Model S and Model X.

The French marque says the Hypersquare steering wheel will form part of “the next step in the saga of i-Cockpit”, which is the name given to Peugeot’s wraparound infotainment array.

Peugeot CEO Alain Favey told Autocar that the Polygon concept car will feature a 21-inch 'floating' display, and that the smaller wheel would give future Peugeots a unique driving feel.

Not much is known about the Hypersquare wheel, only that Peugeot claims that it will be operated by “new gestures” and that it will be “reminiscent to some of a video game controller”.

An article released by the company in June 2024, shortly after the unique steering wheel made its debut on the Inception concept of 2023, says that the wheel will be fitted to a production vehicle as early as 2026, which ties in nicely with November’s big announcement.

Analysis: an innovation too far?

Peugeot’s Polygon concept is rumored to preview a sporty hot hatch that will be the first to use the Stellantis STLA Small Platform, which is highly likely to be offered in both fully electric and hybrid options when it eventually goes on sale.

Keen to position itself as a technology leader in the Stellantis portfolio of brands, Peugeot’s long-standing but forward-thinking i-Cockpit looks fantastic but is sometimes not the most intuitive to use.

Having spent time with the e-5008, which sees twin screens in front of the driver and haptic touch surfaces to control much of the infotainment, I can attest to how fiddly operating some of these functions can be.

What’s more, Peugeot is looking to introduce its Hypersquare steering wheel at a time when there has been a general backlash against wilder automotive innovations, particularly those that only serve to distract the driver.

Tesla’s yoke, for example, was retired in base models of the S and X because many owners hated the way it felt, with some even stating that it was dangerous to use.

Peugeot's execution could be better, but it is also threatening gesture controls and intuitive new ways of interacting with the square wheel. More often than not, these can cause more problems than they solve.

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