It’s square. Or rather rectangular! In any case, no more round ruffles. Peugeot has unveiled the new model which will equip a first car model in 2026. The steering wheel, rectangular in shape, should then be found throughout the vehicle range, said this Friday, May 24, the manufacturer’s product manager, Jérôme Micheron.
A draft of this steering wheel called “Hypersquare” is already visible on the concept car presented by the brand at the Parisian technology show Vivatech. This technology removes the classic steering column, which mechanically connects the steering wheel to the wheels, in favor of electronic connections. Peugeot, which already stood out by offering very small steering wheels, will present it on a first production car in 2026, to mark the start of the renewal of its range. “He will sign all future Peugeots subsequently developed,” Jérôme Micheron told AFP.
“On this steering wheel, you control the car only by making 150° movements: it requires less effort, and you keep a feeling of agility,” underlines the product manager. And this gives a “techno” image to the model, he explains. Drivers adapt very quickly to this system, according to the manufacturer who tested it with customers.
Four holes in the steering wheel accommodate buttons with functions like cruise control, while the turn signals remain in their usual place, behind the wheel. The electronic system is doubled so that the steering does not cut out in the event of a problem.
Peugeot has not indicated with which equipment manufacturer it is developing this steering wheel, but several suppliers such as the Germans ZF and Schaeffler believe in the rapid development of this technology. Many manufacturers already use it to turn the rear wheels. But only a handful of vehicles benefit from it for the front wheels, like Tesla’s Cybertruck, on display near the Peugeot stand at Vivatech, as well as Chinese models. Toyota plans to soon offer it to its bZ4X electric model.