Steer-By-Wire Test Drive With Peugeot's Square Steering Wheel

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Peugeot plans to equip the next 208 with Steer-by-Wire—and a square steering wheel. A test drive shows the technology works but takes some getting used to.

Daytime running lights like saber teeth, lion claw taillights, 3D animation in the cockpit: Peugeot has recently made waves with extravagant design choices. But with the next 208, the developers are taking it to the next level. As the first model, the compact car is set to feature not a round but a square steering wheel. It looks like a landscape-oriented tray with four large holes, similar to a tabletop with cupholders.

The steering wheel, called the "Hypersquare," is intended to be more than just a design gimmick. In the four circular holes, functions for climate control, volume, or assistance systems are integrated. These can be accessed with the thumbs without releasing the hands. The center of the steering wheel – or better, steering tablet?—features a flat digital screen. Above it sits a circular display, the so-called Halo Cluster, which shows driving and infotainment data in a 360-degree layout.

Steer-By-Wire Without Mechanical Backup

The concept is based on an innovative steering system that largely eliminates mechanical components, transmitting inputs from the steering wheel electronically to actuators on the axle. Two actuators at the front axle implement these commands. There are two in case one fails, allowing the other to take over instantly, ensuring the car remains steerable.

Communication pathways and power supply are secured. Unlike conventional electromechanical steering systems, there is no fallback to a heavy mechanical emergency mode. We were now able to test how the Steer-by-Wire steering system performs in a 2008 prototype.

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"A Steer-By-Wire Steering System Takes Some Getting Used to"

Sitting behind the square steering wheel feels just like in any Peugeot, with the wheel positioned low and the view extending over it to the cockpit. The shape is still unfamiliar, but the rim is easy to grip, and the thumbs naturally slide into the indentations where small buttons will eventually be placed. Instructor Francois in the passenger seat presses a few more buttons on his laptop to record the drive. "Take it slow, a steer-by-wire system takes some getting used to."

Right in the first curve, it becomes clear what the technician means. Since the steering commands are transmitted electronically, the steering angle can be variably programmed depending on speed. At low speeds, the steering responds very directly, then approaches a more conventional ratio as speed increases.

When turning at the first intersection, I nearly steer the Peugeot onto the curb. Francois grins: "That happens to everyone. You turned way too hard." Indeed, the 2008 reacts almost nervously to every twitch of the wheel. During the first few meters, the car zigzags until I get the hang of it. The faster we go, the more indirect and "normal" the system feels.

Steering Ratio Depending on Speed

Until the first hairpin turn. A sharp right onto a parking lot. And once again, I oversteer, clipping the curb with the right rear wheel. "During the tuning drives, a few rims got scratched," says Francois. "At walking speed, the steering ratio drops to about 5:1, making it three times more direct than usual," explains Francois. I feel what that means while searching for an open spot in the winding parking lot. To fully turn the wheels, the steering wheel only needs to be rotated 170 degrees. Hand-over-hand steering is no longer necessary.

Multiple Steering Modes

Francois explains that Peugeot is planning different steering modes. A standard mode will ease acclimation, while a sport setting maintains the direct layout at higher speeds for longer. As we drive over a bumpy road, the steering wheel remains unusually calm. Since there is no mechanical connection between the wheels and the steering wheel, no vibrations are transmitted.

To ensure the steering doesn’t feel synthetic and completely disconnect the driver from the road, this feedback is artificially generated in the By-Wire system. Sensors in the steering actuator measure the forces on the wheel carrier, filter out vibrations, and pass only the relevant moments to the driver's hands.

On cobblestones, for example, the vehicle remains steering-precise but without the fine jolts and shaking that mechanically coupled steering systems transmit. Francois guides us to a tight parking spot. A slight turn of the wheel to the right, then to the left, and we’re parked. No frantic cranking.