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Peugeot has shown the Hypersquare, a square steering control with integrated buttons and a display, in its E-T16 electric concept at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The design depends on steer-by-wire, which replaces the usual direct mechanical steering connection with electronic signals and motors; Peugeot has not established that the concept or its claimed performance figures will reach production.
Peugeot has presented the E-T16 Concept, an electric performance hatchback featuring a square-shaped steering control called the Hypersquare, at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. The design depends on steer-by-wire, which sends steering inputs electronically rather than through a conventional mechanical connection, allowing the steering control to be compact and integrated with buttons and a display.
Peugeot describes the Hypersquare as a steer-by-wire control developed in a performance-focused configuration. The automaker says it has a configurable central display for information such as speed and lap timing, and places controls within reach of the driver’s fingers. Those are manufacturer descriptions; the source report does not provide independent test results or measurements of the control’s ergonomics.
The E-T16 is described as a tri-motor electric hatchback. Peugeot claims it can complete three laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife—more than 60 kilometers—in Performance mode without power limitation. The Drive report cautions that the car is a concept, so that claim should not be treated as a verified production-car performance result.
The key technical distinction is that steer-by-wire removes the usual direct link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. Sensors and software interpret the driver’s input, and electric motors turn the wheels. Peugeot says the system in the concept is calibrated for sporty driving, but the provided material does not document how it performed in a road test.
Why the Square Control Needs Software Steering
The Hypersquare’s shape is not just a styling choice: it is practical only if drivers do not need to rotate the control through the large range typical of a conventional steering wheel. With steer-by-wire, software can vary the steering ratio, so a small hand movement could produce a greater response at low speeds and a more restrained one at highway speeds. That flexibility is what makes a compact, non-round control feasible.
The approach also changes what drivers feel. In a conventional system, steering forces travel back through mechanical components. With no direct mechanical connection, feedback through the hands must be generated or shaped by the system. Whether that feels natural and predictable is a central question for any real-world version, particularly in demanding driving conditions.
For readers, the concept points to a broader design tradeoff: electronic control can free up cabin layouts and allow steering response to change by situation, but drivers must rely more heavily on software and the system’s feedback. The display and buttons may put information and functions close to hand; the source does not establish whether that arrangement improves safety or usability.
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From Conventional Wheels to Hypersquare
In a conventional car, a steering column and rack physically connect the wheel to the front wheels. Drivers often turn a round wheel through multiple rotations between full lock, moving their hands around the rim during maneuvers such as parking. A square control would be awkward if it required the same repeated hand-over-hand movement.
Steer-by-wire changes that relationship by transmitting commands electronically and using motors to turn the wheels. The Drive notes that the technology is already offered in vehicles including the Tesla Cybertruck and Lexus RZ. The report presents the Hypersquare as a more visible use of the design freedom the technology permits, rather than a conventional wheel with a different outline.
Peugeot has shown the Hypersquare on other concepts, according to The Drive, including a non-performance version associated with the Polygon. That suggests the control is part of an ongoing design exploration, not evidence that the E-T16 itself is scheduled for production. The Paris show also includes other French concept vehicles, but they are not necessary to assess the Hypersquare’s technical premise.
““For the first time, the Hypersquare® integrates a configurable central display showing essential information such as speed and lap timing according to driving conditions.””
— Peugeot, in its description of the E-T16 Concept
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Questions Before Road Use
The source material does not say whether the E-T16 will enter production, whether the Hypersquare will be offered on a consumer vehicle, or when that might happen. It also gives no independent test of the system’s precision, reliability, driver comfort or behavior in an emergency. Peugeot’s statements about performance and ergonomics remain manufacturer claims.
Another open issue is steering feel. When the mechanical link is removed, feedback has to be produced electronically, but the available material does not explain how Peugeot’s system recreates road feel or how drivers respond to it over time. The report says a demonstration unit was expected at the show, but it provides no findings from a hands-on evaluation.
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Show Demonstrations and Production Clarity
The immediate next opportunity to assess the concept is the Paris Motor Show demonstration described in The Drive’s report. A working display could offer visitors a chance to experience the control, although a show-floor demonstration would not establish how the system performs in normal driving or under varied road conditions.
Peugeot has not provided a production schedule for the E-T16 or confirmed that the Hypersquare will reach a showroom model. Further announcements, technical details and independent driving assessments would be needed to clarify whether the steering design moves beyond concepts and how it addresses driver feedback and everyday usability.
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Key Questions
What is Peugeot’s Hypersquare?
It is a square-shaped steering control shown in Peugeot’s E-T16 Concept. Peugeot says it includes a configurable display and nearby controls, and works with a steer-by-wire system.
Why does the Hypersquare need steer-by-wire?
Steer-by-wire allows software to vary the relationship between hand movement and wheel movement. That can limit how far the driver must turn the control, making a square shape more practical than it would be with a conventional mechanical steering setup.
Is the E-T16 a production car?
The source describes it as a concept car. Peugeot has not confirmed a production version or schedule in the material provided.
Has Peugeot’s Nürburgring claim been verified?
Peugeot claims the concept can complete three laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, more than 60 kilometers, in Performance mode without power limitation. The source does not provide independent verification, so it remains a manufacturer claim.
What is still unknown about the steering system?
Independent results on road feel, ergonomics, reliability and real-world performance are not provided. It is also unclear whether the Hypersquare or E-T16 will be offered in a production vehicle.
Source: rss
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