The futuristic Peugeot Polygon Concept reinvents the wheel

Peugeot has a strong track record with hatchbacks thanks to its unique way of injecting a combination of style and fun into everything from the 1980s 205 to modern day E-208. So, where will it go next? Enter the Polygon Concept with its retro-futuristic looks and sci-fi interior. Peugeot says the Polygon is all about the personalisation, sustainability and taking the enjoyment of driving seriously. To prove just how serious it is, Peugeots has literally reinvented the wheel by introducing a rectangular ‘Hypersquare’ to control the steering. According to Peugeot, this is the future and will be available in a car you can actually buy in 2027.
• This compact hatchback concept provides a vision of what a future 208 might look like • It features ‘Hypersquare’ controls, steer-by-wire technology and uses the windscreen as the infotainment display • Similar tech is expected on production cars by 2027

The Polygon is a concept car giving the designers free rein to go wild with features such as the gullwing doors and the bold external display across the rear. These elements almost certainly won’t make it onto a production model, but we hope the 205 GTi inspired design cues like the lozenge-shape screen on the rear pillar and the design of the wheels will feature on future Peugeots. At the front the distinctive Peugeot three-claw LED light signature has been rotated 90 degrees to span across the car’s nose, and an illuminated Peugeot badge sits in the centre.

The minimalist interior with its red reclining seats and blue ambient lighting looks straight out of a 1960s sci-fi movie and the lozenge motif we saw on the outside is a reoccurring theme within. Peugeot has made the space feel open and airy by angling the windscreen to let in more light. There are several personalisation options with interchangeable bits of trim in different colours and a selection of clips or straps which attach to the dashboard for extra storage. The most notable feature, though, is the rectangle ‘Hypersquare’ which is used to control the steering.

How sustainable is the Polygon Concept?

Recycled materials have been used throughout the car. The shells of the seats are made from 3D-printed recycled plastic, the interior uses textiles made by recycling the seats from other dismantled Peugeot vehicles and the interior paint lacquer comes from recycled tyres. Additionally, the car has been designed with fewer parts than traditional vehicles to make it lighter, more efficient to assemble and easier to replace components.

The Polygon uses ‘steer-by-wire’ technology which means there’s no physical connection between the ‘Hypersquare’ and the front wheels, so the steering is totally electronic - you’ll find similar tech in some versions of the Lexus RZ. The idea is the steering adjusts depending on how fast you are going, so at lower speeds you can apply full lock without all the arm twirling normally required with a traditional steering wheel. At the other end of the spectrum, Peugeot says at higher speeds the car will be more responsive and precise while also filtering out unwanted vibrations you might otherwise feel through the wheel. The four circular holes in the ‘Hypersquare’ control all the cars features so you shouldn’t need to take your hands off the wheel and all the information the driver needs will be projected onto the windscreen to create an immersive experience. This does away with the need for a regular driver display to create more space and is what Peugeot is calling the new-generation ‘i-Cockpit’.

The Polygon Concept is an electric car. There’s a pop-out charging connector at the rear of the car and a display on the side to show the level of charge. However, this is just a concept so Peugeot hasn’t shared any information about power or batteries sizes.

The Polygon Concept won’t be available to buy, but it showcases some of the design and tech which will be available on some Peugeot models from 2027.

Peugeot has recently updated the 308 and E-308 range which will be arriving in the UK soon, meanwhile the E-208 GTi is expected to arrive early next year.