Peugeot has never shied away from turning heads with its concept cars, and the new Polygon is no exception. At first glance, its oblong steering “wheel” seems like a designer’s indulgence, more suited to a runway than a road. But in reality, it’s a serious glimpse into the future: steer-by-wire technology.

The Polygon’s steering wheel has no mechanical link to the front wheels. Instead, it’s fully electronic, driven by two redundant 12V motors at the rack and a smaller motor in the dash providing tactile feedback to the driver. The system filters unwanted vibrations, torque steer, and even compensates for crosswinds—while still relaying the grip limits of the front tires. In short, it’s not sci-fi; it’s imminent.

Peugeot calls the wheel the Hypersquare, a shape that’s less a rectangle and more like an oversized smartphone with rounded corners. Its form avoids brushing a driver’s legs, keeps displays in clear view, and hosts an array of thumb-accessible controls. Contoured grips and thumb holes allow multiple hand positions, improving comfort and freeing up cabin space—a thoughtful nod to ergonomics in an era of digital steering.

The Hypersquare also exploits one of steer-by-wire’s most powerful benefits: adaptive steering ratios. At motorway speeds, the wheel is less sensitive, making it easy to hold a line. At low speeds, you can rotate lock-to-lock with minimal effort, perfect for city parking. Comfort and sport modes let drivers tailor responsiveness, while torque corrections and electronic stability tweaks handle potholes, torque steer, or missed inputs.

Inside the Polygon concept, Peugeot pairs these innovations with the playful theatrics of gullwing doors and unusual seating. Yet beyond the show-car spectacle lies a serious preview: the next 208. Set to launch in 2027, the production 208 will debut Hypersquare on electric models before rolling it out across ICE variants and other Peugeot models. CEO Alain Favey likens it to Peugeot’s “Quattro”—a signature innovation that could define the brand for years to come.

On the road, the Hypersquare’s steer-by-wire system feels impressively natural. During testing on an E-2008 mule, sharp urban maneuvers initially felt odd, with the car’s rear seeming to float on casters. But after a few minutes, the responsiveness and lack of vibration made standard steering feel antiquated. On a high-speed test track, it excelled, providing accurate placement and clear tire feedback even through quick corners, cobbles, and blind crests. Steering ratios range from a brisk 5:1 at low speed to 21:1 in comfort mode on the straights, with sport mode dialing it in closer to a conventional 15:1 ratio.

There are minor quirks, mostly tied to the prototype’s mismatched chassis components, but Peugeot engineers are confident these will be resolved in production. And beyond practicality, the Hypersquare opens playful possibilities: disconnected from the road, it can serve as a controller for in-car games—melding driving and entertainment in a way few cars can.

In essence, the Polygon and Hypersquare represent Peugeot staking a claim in the driver-focused, tech-forward future. While other brands are experimenting with yokes or subtle drive-by-wire tweaks, Peugeot is committing fully, making its next supermini a testbed for steering’s next evolution. As Favey puts it, “We are playing a role in the future of cars. In 20 years, everyone will be offering this.”

The Peugeot Polygon may be a concept, but its Hypersquare wheel signals a revolution in how we’ll interact with cars—not just driving them, but feeling them, customizing them, and perhaps even playing them.

Source: Peugeot

Peugeot isn’t just thinking outside the box — it’s deleting the box altogether. Its latest showpiece, the Polygon Concept, didn’t debut at a motor show or an influencer-packed livestream. Instead, it broke cover inside Fortnite, on an island aptly named Polygon City. A metaverse reveal for a car that redefines what driving could feel like in 2027 and beyond.

The Polygon Concept is far more than another electric design study in the parade of digital prototypes. It’s Peugeot’s rolling test bed for the future — where steering wheels are squares, dashboards are holograms, and seats come out of a 3D printer. The French brand calls it a “dynamic proving ground,” but it’s really a manifesto for what happens when design, digital culture, and driving passion collide.

Steer by Wire, Drive by Instinct

Let’s start with the showstopper: Hypersquare®, Peugeot’s reinvention of the steering wheel — a rectangular control interface that looks like it was ripped straight from a spacecraft. Gone is the traditional circular rim; in its place is a tactile, digital steering hub paired with Steer-by-Wire technology. There’s no mechanical connection between your hands and the front wheels, only pure electronic precision.

At parking speeds, a quick flick of the wrist is all you need — just 170 degrees of lock each way. At highway pace, the Hypersquare’s ratio tightens for razor-edge precision. It’s not just about agility; it’s about redefining feedback. The system filters out road harshness but still transmits just enough texture to keep drivers connected. Think fighter jet joystick meets French savoir-faire.

And this isn’t vaporware. Peugeot says a production car with Steer-by-Wire and Hypersquare® will arrive by 2027. That’s soon enough to make other automakers sweat.

A Windshield That Thinks Like a Screen

Peugeot’s obsession with rethinking convention doesn’t stop at the wheel. Inside the Polygon, the dashboard disappears entirely. Instead, a massive Micro-LED display hidden beneath the Hypersquare projects all relevant data directly onto the windshield — effectively turning it into a 31-inch see-through display.

The projection adapts depending on the mode: Cruise, Fun, or Hyper. In each, the entire cabin’s lighting and animations harmonize with the car’s exterior — a moving light show that blurs the line between machine and performance art. When stationary, the display even becomes visible from outside, letting the Polygon “communicate” with onlookers in the virtual and physical world alike.

It’s a vision of driving as digital immersion — a cockpit that feels alive.

Feline Lines, Pixel Lights

Peugeot has always championed its “feline” design language — taut surfaces, athletic stances, and those signature three-claw lights. The Polygon Concept pushes that DNA into the future with Micro-LED arrays forming the headlights and taillights. The lighting not only animates but also synchronizes front to rear, creating a visual rhythm that pulses with motion even when parked.

And because this is Peugeot, the playfulness runs deep. The body panels, wheels, and even the seat foam carry bursts of color. Partner Goodyear gets in on the fun too, crafting laser-engraved tires with colored sidewalls that change with the car’s configuration. Digital meets physical — and it’s unapologetically French.

Three Personalities, One Polygon

Peugeot’s modular vision means one car can have multiple lives. The Polygon Concept morphs into three distinct styles:

• Urban – sleek, compact, and chic; a city companion with architectural poise.
• Player – bold, sporty, and built for the thrill; it’s the hot hatch reimagined.
• Explorer – rugged and elevated; your electric passport to the wilderness.

Each version is available in Fortnite’s Polygon City, where gamers can explore, customize, and interact with the car long before it ever hits the road. It’s a marketing move as clever as it is meta: a car that lives first in the virtual realm before it touches asphalt.

Designed to Last, Built to Evolve

Behind the playfulness lies serious sustainability. The Polygon Concept is constructed from recycled plastics (R-PET), forged textiles made from deconstructed Peugeot seats, and 3D-printed components. The seats are minimalist masterpieces — three parts instead of dozens, with single-piece foam coated for durability and style.

Everything from the steering control to the wheel covers is replaceable and customizable. Peugeot calls it “Every Day Is a New Car Day.” Swap the seat foam, change the Hypersquare finish, reprint the panels — evolution through personalization. It’s car ownership redefined for a generation that updates, downloads, and reinvents everything.

Polygon Points to Peugeot’s Next Decade

The Peugeot Polygon Concept isn’t just a design fantasy. It’s a glimpse into how Peugeot envisions its cars — playful, connected, sustainable, and deeply human. The Hypersquare steering and Steer-by-Wire tech alone could revolutionize driving feel in the coming decade.

For a brand that built its legacy on agile hot hatches and expressive design, Polygon is a confident leap into the unknown — one that suggests the next chapter of Peugeot will be written in pixels, polymers, and pure imagination.

Source: Peugeot