Peugeot’s 208, due for launch this summer, will have a small steering wheel to help improve the sporty feel of the car, design chief Gilles Vidal said.
The wheel’s diameter is just 35cm, smaller than that of the RCZ sports car. Most steering wheels have a diameter of between 36cm and 37cm, said Vidal.
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The smaller wheel has been achieved by having an instrument panel that “flows like a landscape” and is higher than normal so the driver doesn’t have to peer through the wheel to see the dials, he said.
The new 208 was seen in mock-up at the Brussels show – which runs until January 22 – and is set for a production debut at the Geneva show in March. The car has the potential to be both a “basic, popular” model as well as a premium contender, said Vidal.
The hope is that he and his team have produced a ‘classless’ car that captures the spirit of the legendary 205GT while improving on the best qualities of the 206 and 207 successors.
“There are a lot of little things that, when put together, make sense and help make the car more sporty,” he said.
