3 Minutes
Peugeot reinvents the supermini
Peugeot's third-generation 208 arrives in 2026 as one of Stellantis's most strategic models. Built around the new STLA Small architecture and sold exclusively as an electric hatch, the next 208 aims to reset expectations for compact EVs with bold cabin tech, a new Hypersquare steering control and significantly larger battery options.
STLA Small: the platform for a new era
The 208 will be the first production car to use STLA Small, Stellantis's new platform for A- to C-segment models. Replacing the CMP/e-CMP underpinnings of today’s 208, 2008 and Vauxhall Corsa, STLA Small can host hybrid and electric layouts, but Peugeot has chosen to launch the new 208 as an EV-only model. That move mirrors plans for the next Corsa, which will also drop internal combustion power.
Battery, range and performance
Battery capacity for STLA Small models spans roughly 37kWh to 82kWh. The new 208 is expected to use a pack toward the upper end, potentially delivering a substantial range uplift versus the current 52kWh e-208 (around 268 miles WLTP in its best guise). Power outputs have not been finalised — standard models are likely to match the current 156bhp benchmark — while the platform also supports much sharper performance variants, opening the door to a future GTi-grade 208.
Tech-forward interior: Hypersquare and steer-by-wire
Peugeot will preview the car with the Polygon concept, highlighting a radical new cabin and the next evolution of the i-Cockpit. The Hypersquare rectangular steering control, first hinted at on the Inception concept, will be connected to a steer-by-wire system — a first for a Stellantis production car. The new layout promises more usable space, a clearer view of the instrument cluster and a distinctive driving feel.
- 21in panoramic curved infotainment screen similar to the 3008
- Customisable shortcut buttons and advanced driver controls
- Production at Stellantis' Zaragoza plant with launch end of 2026
Peugeot's CEO says the brand remains 'committed to BEVs' while retaining a multi-energy strategy across the group, explaining why current CMP-based combustion models could continue alongside the new e-208 for market flexibility. Pricing is expected to sit close to today’s entry point, around £30,000, while the 208 will be followed by a Corsa twin and the next-generation 2008 on the same platform.
For buyers and enthusiasts the 2026 Peugeot 208 promises to be more than an incremental update: it feels like the start of a new chapter for affordable electric cars in Europe, combining practical range, fresh design and genuinely novel in-car technology.
Source: autocar.co
Comments
driveline
Is this even true? 82kWh in a supermini sounds great but £30k and steer-by-wire safety worries me. if that’s real then.. interesting, skeptical
techpulse
Wow, EV-only 208 with a Hypersquare steering? bold move. More range and that curved screen sound awesome, but will it drive weird... curious
Leave a Comment