Peugeot tests a rectangular thing that could open the door to a steering wheel free future
Peugeot decided to bring the question of steering firmly onto the table, not as a sketch or distant concept but as a working system. The French manufacturer started real world testing of an electronic steering setup built around an unusual, almost square control device called Hypersquare. The system is expected to make its public debut in the next generation Peugeot 208.
Peugeot is testing what the industry calls steer by wire, a system where no mechanical connection exists between the steering control and the front wheels. Electric servos handle wheel movement, while steering feel is created electronically rather than through physical linkage.
German business daily Handelsblatt reported that Peugeot did not stop at a technical prototype. The company invited journalists to try the system themselves, a move that signals confidence and a desire for early feedback. Car makers rarely open such testing so widely at this stage.
Hypersquare looks nothing like a traditional steering wheel. It resembles a compact control panel, almost square in shape, with four circular recesses designed for the driver’s thumbs. Peugeot plans to place buttons for secondary functions in the upper recesses, allowing drivers to operate features without changing hand position.
According to Handelsblatt journalists, Hypersquare proved unexpectedly user friendly. While the shape appears eccentric at first glance, the hand position quickly becomes natural. That learning curve may well decide whether the system succeeds or fails.
One of the biggest advantages of steer by wire lies in comfort. With vibrations no longer transmitted directly from the wheels, steering feel becomes calmer and cleaner. Feedback is generated by software, allowing its character to change depending on driving conditions.
Peugeot engineers implemented a solution with a dynamically variable steering ratio. During parking manoeuvres the steering becomes very short and reacts to small inputs, while at higher speeds it lengthens and feels more stable. Testers said low speed manoeuvring initially felt overly sensitive and even nervous, although adaptation came quickly.
When it reaches production, the system would offer several driving modes. One aims to mimic traditional steering as closely as possible, ensuring drivers do not feel like they are sitting in an aircraft cockpit during the first few kilometres. This suggests Peugeot is not trying to shock customers but to retrain them gradually.
Peugeot’s move highlights the shrinking role of mechanics and the growing importance of software. Steer by wire opens the door to autonomous systems and new interior layouts where the steering control no longer needs to be round or even permanently visible. At the same time, the cautious multi mode approach shows that manufacturers understand just how personal and emotional steering still is for drivers. That is why the classic steering wheel is not disappearing any time soon, even as it quietly evolves into an electronic compromise.
