New Peugeot Polygon concept previews the 208's future
If you’re a fan of space-age concept cars, then take a look at Peugeot’s latest creation.
Meet the Peugeot Polygon concept.
It's an electric, three-door show car that the French carmaker says previews the next-generation 208 hatchback.
We’ve got all the details, so scroll on for all you need to know.
Measuring just under four metres long, the Polygon concept gets its name from its rectangular steering wheel, which Peugeot says is key to the next iteration of Peugeot’s signature i-Cockpit dashboard design.
The Polygon is short and low-riding, with minimal overhangs. It is designed primarily for electric power, due to its short bonnet, which leaves little space for an internal combustion engine.
The Polygon's front end features a new take on Peugeot’s 'three-claw' lighting, incorporating LED light bars that span the entire width of the car.
Notably, the Polygon is a three-door hatchback, rather than using the five-door design of today’s 208.
The Polygon's rear design evokes the Peugeot 205, featuring a flat-faced aesthetic and notable square brake lights.
The C-pillar pays homage to the 205 GTi; the original car's lozenge-shaped badges have been reinterpreted as LED lights to display the Polygon's battery charge status.
The 208 will be the first Peugeot to use a steer-by-wire system, which removes any physical link between the steering wheel and the wheels.
It uses electronic connections to convey the driver’s inputs to the steered wheels.
That means lots of space is freed up behind the steering wheel and inside the dashboard.
Peugeot has also removed any physical binnacle, instead displaying all of the vehicle’s vital information inside the windscreen. In total, the display area measures 31 inches.
The narrow design of the steering wheel, according to Peugeot, prevents it from blocking the driver's view of the projected information.
A small screen situated above the iDrive-style dial controller on the centre console displays the climate control settings.
Peugeot claims its steering system offers a feeling of "hyper-agility" due to its quickness.
To ensure greater stability at higher speeds, the rack's rate of response is automatically slowed down.
Elsewhere inside, traditional seats have been swapped out for racing-style chairs. These can be swapped out in minutes, in theory enabling owners to change the design or colours.
The concept's 'XXL' gullwing doors, which Peugeot stated are unlikely to reach production, were designed to simplify cabin entry. They also reportedly reduce the necessary number of parts, thus lowering costs.
The steer-by-wire technology showcased in Peugeot's Polygon concept is set to appear in showrooms from 2027.
This timing coincides with when the current 208 is due for replacement, suggesting the technology could be implemented in the next generation of the hatchback, although Peugeot has not yet confirmed a production date for the new 208.
The forthcoming 208 will be the first vehicle to use Stellantis's STLA Small architecture. Critically, it will be offered exclusively as an electric vehicle.
The platform's battery capacities will span from 37kWh to 82kWh, which promises a significantly increased range compared with the 268 miles offered by today's e-208.
