Peugeot Thinks a Rectangular Steering Wheel Makes Sense

Peugeot has a long history of breaking the mold in design, and its newest concept is a reminder that French flair is still very much alive. The Polygon proves it’s still hip to be square in 2025, adopting an aggressively angular design that continues inside. Open the gullwing doors and you’ll see how the Stellantis brand is once again trying to reinvent the wheel.

Resembling an oversized video game controller, the steering wheel features an unconventional rectangular shape we’ve actually seen before. Peugeot first introduced the so-called Hypersquare on the 2023 Inception concept, and its return here is a clear sign that a production car will soon adopt the quirky design. In fact, the company calls it a “tangible reality,” suggesting it’s on the way.

Peugeot confirms the concept’s steer-by-wire setup will debut on a series production vehicle in 2027. It eliminates the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels while offering a variable steering ratio that adapts to the vehicle’s speed. The Hypersquare has a maximum rotation of 170 degrees in each direction, so less than a complete turn (360 degrees). By contrast, a traditional wheel has three turns (1080 degrees).

Combining steer-by-wire technology with the new steering wheel is said to make the car easier to maneuver during parking or tight turns. At higher speeds, only a “small input” is needed to adjust the car’s trajectory. Peugeot is confident the setup performs better in all situations, but the French aren’t the first. Infiniti introduced steer-by-wire more than a decade ago in the Q50, eliminating the traditional mechanical steering column.

Because the Polygon is purely a concept, Peugeot had complete freedom to go wild with the styling. However, the showcar does preview a new design language we’ll likely see on the next-generation 208. Expect the supermini to forgo the gullwing doors and other exaggerated details, such as the windscreen doubling as a giant display.