Driving Pleasure and the Hypersquare Steering Wheel
In Peugeot, we think it is important to give choices to the driver,
said Matthias Hossain, Peugeot’s design director, during the 2026 Paris Motor Show. At the exhibition held on October 12 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hossain told inews24 that preserving the physical experience and emotion of driving remains essential even as autonomous vehicle technology advances.
To implement this philosophy in upcoming production vehicles, Peugeot is introducing the Hypersquare steering wheel. Hossain explained to inews24 that the system relies on tech-by-wire technology, eliminating any mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Hossain described the innovation as a way to redefine and reinvent the joy of driving. The brand plans to apply this equipment to the next-generation 208, which is scheduled for release next year, to provide a driving experience unlike the past.
Design Inspiration from 1980s Rally Cars
Peugeot’s evolving design direction is also visible in the E-T16 concept car unveiled at the Paris event. The vehicle draws inspiration from the 205 T16, a rally car that secured back-to-back world championships for the automaker in 1985 and 1986.
Hossain told inews24 that the concept reinterprets historical styling elements for modern buyers while signaling the aesthetic direction of the upcoming 208. Rather than adopting a purely retro approach, the design team aims to blend heritage with forward-looking expressions under a strategy the company calls Feline Future.
Expanding the RCZ Vision Concept
Alongside the 208 preview, Peugeot displayed the RCZ Vision, a concept car that reinterprets the proportions of the brand’s former sports coupe. The RCZ Vision inherits the design characteristics of the past sports coupe while newly configuring the body proportions and interior space. While the original RCZ measured approximately 4.3 meters in length, the new concept extends that dimension to 4.6 meters, making it approximately 30 centimeters longer.
Hossain explained to inews24 that shifting the cabin backward—including the driver’s seat—was an intentional design to improve exterior proportions while securing interior space, rather than retaining the restrictive rear seating of the older coupe. This allows engineers to create a practical four-seat interior layout where adults can actually ride. However, the design director confirmed that the company currently has no plans to put the RCZ Vision into mass production, positioning it instead as an exploration of future spatial layouts and architectural interior design.
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