Your first drive with Hypersquare: what feels different and how quickly drivers adapt

A new and exciting way to drive begins with a simpler gesture. PEUGEOT Hypersquare® combines reduced steering movement, intuitive control and speed-adaptive precision to make every journey feel more agile and engaging.

PEUGEOT Hypersquare® changes two things drivers notice immediately: the shape of the steering control and the way the reduced operating range is understood from behind the wheel. The shorter steering movement itself is made possible by PEUGEOT Steer-by-Wire technology, which continuously adapts the relationship between the driver’s input and the road-wheel angle according to vehicle speed. Together, PEUGEOT Hypersquare® and Steer-by-Wire create a new steering experience that feels direct during low-speed manoeuvres and naturally more measured and stable on faster roads.

 

Drivers do not have to relearn acceleration, braking, observation or road positioning.

The learning curve is focused on steering: understanding that less movement is required, avoiding unecessary hand-over-hand rotation and building confidence in a system that adapts naturally to vehicle speed. In our qualitative research, perceptions became increasingly positive throughout the test session, particularly during low-speed manoeuvres.

Discover a new way to drive! From the first city turn to the open road, PEUGEOT Hypersquare® delivers a steering response that adapts seamlessly to vehicle speed, combining hyper-agility during low-speed manoeuvres with precise, stable and intuitive control as speed increases.

New in your hands, natural from the first turns. PEUGEOT Hypersquare® transforms steering into a shorter and more direct gesture, whilst its response evolves continuously and intuitively with the driving situation.

 

The first low-speed input feels more direct than with a conventional steering wheel because the Steer-by-Wire system produces the required road-wheel angle from a smaller movement of the PEUGEOT Hypersquare®. The reduced operating range removes the need for successive hand-over-hand rotations. During the tightest manoeuvres, drivers can either maintain their grip or reposition one hand, depending on the technique they find most comfortable.

 

As the vehicle gathers speed, the relationship between the driver’s gesture and the movement of the road wheels evolves smoothly. There is no abrupt switch between a low-speed setting and a high-speed setting. The calibration continuously adjusts in the background, making the response direct when manoeuvring and naturally more measured on faster roads. The driver does not need to manage this adaptation or change steering technique. PEUGEOT Hypersquare® remains the same intuitive control throughout the journey: precise and agile in confined spaces, progressive and stable as speed increases.

Just relax your hands and stay in control. The stable two-handed position and integrated thumb controls keep every essential function naturally within reach.

PEUGEOT Hypersquare® is designed around a stable two-handed position. Its four circular pods create clear grip and control zones, whilst key functions remain accessible to the thumbs. The reduced steering range provided by Steer-by-Wire greatly limits the need to reposition the hands during everyday driving.

 

The unique rectangular design moves away from the traditional clock-face reference of a round steering wheel, signalling a new steering experience that requires less rotation. During most driving situations, the hands can remain within the natural grip zones on the outer rim. When approaching the full steering range in a tight manoeuvre, drivers can either maintain their grip or reposition one hand once if this feels more comfortable than crossing the arms. The production vehicle handbook and driver guidance will remain the reference for hand placement.

 

This point matters for different driver profiles. A driver accustomed to a small PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® wheel may find the reduced movement easier to understand than someone who routinely uses large steering inputs. A new driver may have fewer established habits to unlearn. A driver who strongly prefers a conventional round wheel may need more time before the new control feels automatic.

Minimum movement delivers maximum effect. With speed-adaptive Steer-by-Wire technology, PEUGEOT Hypersquare® combines hyper-agility when manoeuvring with smooth, precise and stable control as speed increases.

 

A conventional power-steering system retains a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the steering rack. Its steering ratio means that some low-speed manoeuvres require the wheel to be rotated through a much wider range, with several successive hand repositioning movements.

 

Steer-by-Wire removes this traditional mechanical link. Sensors measure the driver’s input, electronic control functions translate it into a steering instruction, actuators move the steering rack and a separate actuator generates calibrated force feedback through PEUGEOT Hypersquare®. This electronic architecture allows the steering ratio to evolve continuously with vehicle speed.

 

At low speed, the road wheels can reach the required angle from a smaller steering input. As speed increases, the relationship between the driver’s movement and the road-wheel angle becomes progressively more measured to support precision and vehicle stability. This evolution happens automatically within the selected driving mode, with no need for the driver to switch manually between parking, urban and motorway settings.

 

The reduction in steering travel is made possible by Steer-by-Wire technology, including when it is associated with a round steering control. PEUGEOT Hypersquare® makes this new relationship between movement and response immediately visible: its distinctive geometry signals a new way of driving and helps the driver understand and adopt the shorter operating range.

Make tight spaces feel easier to master. Approximately half a turn in either direction replaces repeated steering-wheel rotations, keeping both hands securely in position.

 

Parking is the best place to experience this new relationship between movement and response. In a parallel-parking manoeuvre, the driver can apply the required road-wheel angle without rotating the steering control through several successive movements.

 

Drivers who are comfortable keeping both hands on PEUGEOT Hypersquare® can guide it through its full operating range without releasing the control. Others may prefer to reposition one hand once as the control approaches its maximum angle, particularly to avoid crossing the arms. Both techniques allow the driver to benefit from the reduced steering range.

 

The same principle applies in narrow car parks, tight streets, U-turns and roundabouts. Fewer steering movements simplify the physical sequence, but the driver must still judge space, speed and surrounding traffic. PEUGEOT Hypersquare® does not change the vehicle’s external dimensions or automatically reduce its geometric turning circle.

Thrilling from the first touch. Intuitive within the first driving situations. Each turn and manoeuvre quickly builds familiarity with the shorter steering gesture.

 

There is no single adaptation time for every driver. There is no single adaptation time that applies to every driver. During our qualitative research, participants were observed throughout their first impressions, initial driving situations, manoeuvres and final evaluations. Results showed a clear improvement throughout the session, with the most significant gains occurring during low-speed manoeuvres. However, the findings do not support a universal adaptation time measured in seconds, minutes or kilometres.

 

Adaptation is likely to happen in stages:

A short, structured introduction can support that process: begin in an open area, try gentle left and right inputs, complete a low-speed turn, then practise parking before moving to faster roads. Confidence develops through the first driving situations rather than at exactly the same pace for every driver. We designed PEUGEOT Hypersquare® for intuitive handling, and consumer testing produced positive responses to its ergonomics and learning curve. These results support our design objective while recognising that familiarisation cannot be reduced to a fixed number of seconds, minutes or miles for every individual.

One innovation, designed around different driving habits. Whether drivers spend more time in the city or on the motorway, PEUGEOT Hypersquare® reveals its benefits progressively through real driving situations.

 

Experience, driving habits and expectations can all shape the first response. Drivers who frequently manoeuvre in cities may notice the reduced rotation immediately. Drivers who spend most of their time on motorways may focus first on stability, force feedback and the absence of unwanted vibration. Drivers with long-established hand-over-hand habits may need to consciously reduce their movement during the first few turns.

 

Driver size, preferred seating position and established steering habits can influence the first impression. PEUGEOT Hypersquare® is integrated into the next generation of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® to support clear instrument visibility and a natural relationship between the driver, the control and the displays. Seat and steering adjustments allow each driver to find the position that best suits their stature and reach.

 

The right message is not that one type of driver will find PEUGEOT Hypersquare® easy and another will struggle. It is that the first-drive briefing should acknowledge different habits and give every driver the same simple method: settle the hands, start with small inputs and let the speed-adaptive response reveal itself progressively.

Advanced technology becomes meaningful when its benefits are felt every day. Fewer steering movements, easier manoeuvres and smooth high-speed control make steer-by-wire simple to understand from behind the wheel.

 

With PEUGEOT Hypersquare®, we turn an advanced steering architecture into benefits that drivers can experience in everyday situations. Its value goes beyond a futuristic shape or a specialist performance feature: fewer hand movements when parking, easier low-speed manoeuvres, stable response at higher speeds, accessible controls and a more open cockpit layout.

 

This is how we make the technology relevant to a broad range of drivers. Drivers do not need to understand actuator architecture or variable-ratio algorithms before using the system. They need a predictable response, clear guidance during the first drive and confidence that the technology has been validated for everyday roads, repeated use and different driving profiles.

 

PEUGEOT Hypersquare® translates Steer-by-Wire technology into practical changes behind the wheel: fewer steering movements, a response that adapts to speed and key controls within reach of the thumbs.

1. Adjust the seat and mirrors before focusing on the new steering control.
2. Place both hands comfortably on the outer rim and keep your grip relaxed.
3. Begin with small steering inputs in an open, low-speed environment.
4. Practise a left turn, a right turn and a controlled U-turn.
5. Try a parking manoeuvre to experience the reduced rotation.
6. Notice how the reduced steering range limits the need for successive hand-over-hand movements.
7. Allow the control to return progressively and reposition one hand if this feels more natural during a tight manoeuvre.
8. Assess your impressions across several driving situations rather than after the first steering input alone.