The Hypersquare Is a New ‘Steering Wheel’ That’s Even Weirder Than Tesla’s Yoke

Key Takeaways

• Peugeot’s futuristic steering innovation. The E-T16 Concept features the Hypersquare, a unique steer-by-wire system with a central display for performance driving.
• Citroën reinvents an icon. The 2 CV Concept, a modern EV version, aims for affordability and compliance with future regulations.
• Renault’s nostalgic revival. The E-Space Concept reimagines the classic MPV with a focus on comfort and modularity.
• Paris Motor Show’s bold concepts. French automakers showcase innovative designs, blending nostalgia with futuristic technology.

Bottom line: The 2026 Paris Motor Show highlights bold, futuristic concepts from French automakers, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge technology.

✦ AI assisted, editor reviewed

The 2026 Paris Motor Show (Mondial de l’Auto) kicks off today, and I’m delighted to report that the French have already trotted out a crop of truly bizarre concept cars there. We’ve got a cyberpunk 2 CV, a space-age E-Space, and a “hyper hatch,” not a hot hatch, with the wackiest steering wheel I’ve seen outside Formula 1.

First, behold the Peugeot E-T16 Concept.

It’s a tri-motor electric hatchback that, Peugeot’s release claims, “can complete three laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife—more than 60 km—in Performance mode, with no power limitation!” But, I mean, it’s a concept car, so the “specs” could say anything.

Peugeot

The project is aesthetically a callback to the 205 T16 of the mid-’80s, which was a rally beast in its day (famously winning the 1985 and 1986 World Rally Championships back-to-back).

I’ll let you scroll through images of it below, but here’s what the Stellantis-owned French automaker has to say about its bizarre steering wheel that’s not really a wheel at all. It looks like a charcuterie board of buttons—Peugeot calls it the Hypersquare.

“Inspired by the steering wheel of the PEUGEOT 9X8 competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Hypersquare® steering control of E-T16 CONCEPT demonstrates the adaptability of this new steer by wire technology, here developed in a performance-focused configuration. For the first time, the Hypersquare® integrates a configurable central display showing essential information such as speed and lap timing according to driving conditions. The outstanding ergonomics of Hypersquare®, allowing access to key functions with a simple finger movement, are particularly valuable in sporty driving situations. Combined with the specially calibrated steer-by-wire system, Hypersquare® also delivers exceptional precision and agility.”

I don’t know how outstanding the ergo really is, but there will be a demo unit at the auto show for anybody who’s out there and wants to check it out. Peugeot’s pretty committed—it’s trotted out the Hypersquare on a few other concepts, including a non-performance variant in a getaround car called Polygon.

There are short interviews with Peugeot execs extolling the virtues of this idea on YouTube. It basically comes down to “steer-by-wire means more context-specific steering response so we can put more buttons near your hands.” I’ll be interested to see real, live demos. For now, I think I’ll stick with regular-ol’ wheels.

You Francophiles in the audience can get your full Peugeot download from its Paris press conference:

More Peugeot E-T16 Concept Pictures

This thing is so freaking rad.

More 2026 Paris Auto Show Highlights

While you’re here, take a quick look at some of the other wild designs coming out of France this week.

Citroën 2 CV Concept

Citroën, another Stellantis brand, is also doing the “icon reinvented” thing, revisiting the iconic 2 CV as a modern EV with a car version and a mini Euro-style breadvan version. The 2 CV was never popular in the United States, but it’s about as iconic as the VW Beetle in Europe and many other countries around the world.

The 2 CV was built for decades and has been made to endure everything from big-city post-war daily driving to African taxi duty over the course of its long production run. Unlike the Peugeot Hyper Hatch, which will probably not make it to production, a nouveau-style 2 CV is apparently in the pipeline.

Citroën’s release says:

“The 2 CV Concept embodies the vision for a model that the brand will unveil within the next two years; manufactured in Europe, it aims for a starting price of around €15,000 [about $16,700] and will comply with future E-Car regulations.”

The commercial variant is being described as more of a “passion project.”

Renault E-Space Concept

The Renault E-Space is yet another new-version-of-old-icon (nostalgia sells). The E-Space minivan might ring a bell because an insane V10 track-ready variant of it was in Gran Turismo.

This new concept doesn’t have anything to do with that; it’s more focused on the practical peoplemover aspect. As the French company <a href="https://media.renault.com/renault-e-space-concept-a-contemporary-vision-of-voitures-a-vivre/?lang=eng" rel="nofollow noopener"

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