December, 2025

3 minute read

With the PEUGEOT POLYGON Concept, the brand unveils a concentration of innovations that herald its future. “The initial idea was to create an object around the Hypersquare®,” explains Sébastien Criquet, Head of Exterior Design for PEUGEOT concept cars. This rectangular, futuristic steering wheel served as the starting point for the entire project. “We started with the steering wheel and designed the interior space around it. This led us to move the windshield forward and free up volume. It’s an ultra-compact car, with the stance of a true PEUGEOT.” Even the name came about naturally. “The first time we designed the cabin, we drew… a polygon. And it clicked,” he smiles. From this came the idea of ​​a multifaceted vehicle, capable of assuming several identities. Urban, Explorer, Player… so many variations revealed even in the Fortnite universe, where POLYGON has given itself a first virtual life.

The three horizontal, illuminated claws, stretching across the entire width with the illuminated Lion at their center, mark a true departure. "It's the car's strongest element: ultra-graphic, undeniably PEUGEOT, impossible to mistake," insists Sébastien Criquet. On the concept car, this front end comes to life thanks to micro-LED technology. "Micro-LEDs allow us to play with graphics, to create animations. It's an incredible canvas for expression," he explains. Another detail: the wing mirrors, which appear to float. "It was a designer with a product design background who proposed this shape. The mirror has become an object in itself, one that you could place on a desk."

While POLYGON is captivating at first glance, it's when you get behind the wheel that the real revolution takes place. The Hypersquare® steering wheel, combined with steer-by-wire steering, fundamentally changes the driving experience. "There's no longer a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels: everything is electronically controlled," explains Julie Coubronne, steer-by-wire DVP manager. "At low speeds, you no longer need to make repeated turns of the wheel: 170° to the right or left is enough for U-turns, roundabouts, and parking maneuvers. At high speeds, a simple flick of the wrist is all it takes to change trajectory, and we electronically recreate the feedback so the driver remains connected to the road," she adds. Learning is immediate. "It's not really about relearning how to drive, it's more about understanding a new skill. And it comes in seconds. It's extremely intuitive." "The system was designed to maximise safety: 'We have two independent actuators. Even if one fails, the other takes over.'"

POLYGON is a living laboratory. “A concept car is a tool. We push the boundaries, we test the future, and we observe the public's reaction. It has to be a bit of a shock: it's like bringing a piece of the future into the present,” explains Sébastien Criquet. This future is arriving very soon. Hypersquare® and steer-by-wire steering will be introduced as early as 2027 on a new electric model. POLYGON is therefore not detached from reality; it's already the first page of the next PEUGEOT chapter.