Peugeot just teased the Polygon concept ahead of its November 12 unveiling.
The dramatically styled supermini previews the next generation 208 with what the French carmaker calls feline futuristic design.
The new design represents a radical departure from the current model that’s been around since 2019.
Only one image exists so far but it reveals key details. The Hypersquare steering wheel with steer-by-wire technology takes center stage.
That system was first previewed on the 2023 Inception concept. This marks the first time a Stellantis car uses the technology.
Peugeot CEO Alain Favey called it the next step in the i-Cockpit saga. That’s the brand’s distinct interior design positioning a small steering wheel well below the instruments.
The new setup is about agility and will give future Peugeots a unique driving feel. The system is expected to roll out across the range after its 208 introduction.
A 21-inch floating display appears in the concept. This is likely the same curved infotainment unit from the 3008.
Red upholstery covers the seats though final production materials remain unconfirmed.
The monolithic silhouette and distinctive aero-defined surfacing are expected to be defining cues of the production car.
While the concept will be toned down for showrooms, it sets the tone for a new era of Peugeot design. The i-Cockpit layout is staying, which will likely divide opinion as it always has.
The Polygon sits on Stellantis’s incoming STLA Small platform. That architecture accommodates either hybrid or electric powertrains.
Vauxhall CEO Florian Huettl recently confirmed the next Corsa will be exclusively electric. The 208 shares the platform so it should follow suit.
The current second-generation ICE 208 will likely stay in production alongside the new electric version. That hedges against unpredictability in the EV market.
Favey didn’t confirm this outright but said Peugeot is committed to battery electric vehicles while also committed to a multi-energy offer.
The strategy is leaving the choice to customers which energy they want to use.
The new 208 is due at the end of next year. It’s tipped to be the first car sitting on the STLA Small platform.
The new Corsa follows after. Both will continue production at Stellantis’s Zaragoza plant in Spain.
The Polygon follows similar thinking to the Vauxhall Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo. That 789-horsepower sporty electric concept revealed in August previews the next generation of the 208’s Corsa twin.
The official unveiling next Wednesday should reveal whether production plans match the radical concept styling.
