THE PEUGEOT i-COCKPIT® TURNS 10: THE STORY OF A BOLD INNOVATION

A little over 10 years ago, PEUGEOT envisaged the possibility of a new driving position with enhanced ergonomics and comfort at heart. From this idea, the i-Cockpit® was born. Introduced with the first-generation PEUGEOT 208, since then, almost 10 million cars using the i-Cockpit® have been produced. The system has been extended across the PEUGEOT range, improving driving sensations, safety and comfort.

ALLURE: Unique and innovative i-Cockpit® design makes for a more emotional interior ambiance.

EMOTION: Incomparable and intuitive driving experience with agile steering.

EXCELLENCE: Revolutionary ergonomics gives cars with PEUGEOT  i-Cockpit® a unique feeling.

The i-Cockpit® concept comprises three fundamental elements, which have remained unchanged ever since:

• A compact steering wheel for better driving feel and optimal handling.
• An elevated display that allows the driver to view all driving-related information while keeping their eyes on the road.
• A large central touchscreen within easy reach and view with access to the vehicle’s main functions.

The i-Cockpit® success story means it is now a signature feature on every new PEUGEOT.

The 2010 PEUGEOT SR1 concept showcases radical intent

The story begins in 2010 with the presentation of the PEUGEOT SR1 concept car at the Geneva International Motor Show, an elegant coupé-cabriolet that showcased some of the radical new thinking going on in PEUGEOT’s design studio. One of these ideas was a revolutionary driving position that turned the traditional codes of interior design and ergonomics on its head.

At the time, the PEUGEOT teams were looking to develop a more emotional, yet ergonomic and comfortable interior architecture. A small team of designers and engineers set to work, and quickly, the proposal for a smaller steering wheel emerged. Conventional steering wheel design deployed a large wheel through which the instrumentation was read, but PEUGEOT designers discovered that the best position for this information was at eye level. This new position, combined with a smaller steering wheel, created an entirely new system, with a display that came to be known as the “head-up display”. This new, more ergonomic approach was combined with a touchscreen display, which made the controls much simpler to operate and improved connectivity.

"The stakes were high for the brand, we were taking a calculated risk by committing to such an innovative and novel concept. Above all, we had to make sure our customers liked the concept. We organised tests on a circuit with French and German customers. We had them drive a car with a regular steering wheel and dashboard, then we put them in the prototype with this new steering wheel and this new elevated cluster. The feedback was gtrexcellent and very qualitative. The younger participants appreciated the sportiness, while the older ones felt that it was agile and modern and that it represented a shift from the past. Everyone took to the little steering wheel with great ease. We were absolutely convinced that we had something unique.” - Jérôme Micheron, PEUGEOT Product Director

In 2012, the PEUGEOT 208 introduces i-Cockpit® to the market

The first generation of the PEUGEOT 208 caused a stir by introducing the i-Cockpit® as standard. It quickly established itself as an innovation that transformed the driver's experience:

• More driving pleasure: thanks to the compact steering wheel, the car is even more responsive to the driver's inputs, with less arm movement required to deliver the same amount of lock as a larger wheel.
• More driving comfort: the new placement of the instruments means there is less eye strain. The lower steering wheel allows the driver's arms to be positioned at more comfortable angles, and the central touchscreen allows the intuitive operation of the vehicle's main functions.
• Optimised safety: the compact steering wheel makes reactive inputs quicker, the elevated display makes the eyes more focused on the road, and the dashboard alerts are more visible. All this increases driver awareness and therefore increases safety.
• A unique design: technological and refined, the design enhances the driving experience and is unique to PEUGEOT.

Constantly evolving to adapt to customer requirements

Since its appearance, the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® has continued to evolve and modernise. In 2016, the second generation of the PEUGEOT 3008 and PEUGEOT 5008 debuted a version with an interactive 12.3-inch digital instrument display that can be fully personalised, while ‘Piano key’ toggle switches are placed under the central touchscreen to make access to essential functions even easier. In 2019, the second-generation PEUGEOT 208 took this emphasis on digital innovation even further when it introduced an industry-leading 3D digital cluster.

The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit went one step further on the new PEUGEOT 308 (2021) and 408 (2022) with the introduction of the new i-Connect® 10-inch infotainment system, a new compact steering wheel capable of detecting the presence of the driver's hands when using driving assistance features, and a new user interface for climate control settings, telephone contacts, radio station and application launch settings. The new i-Toggles replaced conventional buttons with a sleek digital interface sat beneath the central touchscreen, each i-Toggle being a customisable touch-sensitive shortcut similar to the new widgets used to organise and group functions on the 10-inch i-Connect screen.

The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® has not finished evolving

The story of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® is still in its infancy - more developments of this iconic and disruptive feature are to come as Peugeot accelerates its plan to become a fully-electric brand in Europe by 2030.

"The i-Cockpit® must always remain intuitive, dynamic and iconic: this is one of our objectives. PEUGEOT has been the forerunner in this field, so it's up to us to continue to pave the way for ever more innovation and inventiveness in order to stay one step ahead and remain iconic. It is about constant renewal to continue to surprise and remain at the top level. We know one thing for sure, the i-Cockpit® has a bright future!” - Bertrand Rapatel, Director of Interior Design at PEUGEOT.

The PEUGEOT Inception concept, presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas at the beginning of the year, previews the next evolution of the PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® suite. The revolutionary new Hypersquare steering control does away with the conventional steering wheel in favour of a steer-by-wire system fronted by a new interface for the innately digital generation. This steering control combines the typical function of a steering wheel with a tablet-like screen for information control. Widgets for key functions are selected via touch-sensitive inputs, and controlled and interacted with using the circular recesses.

The PEUGEOT Inception concept will inspire the brand’s next-generation products from 2025 onwards, with the aim to introduce the Hypersquare on a new car before the end of 2030.

ENDS

PRESS CONTACTS

John Handcock - Head of Public Relations

+44(0)7810 180249

john.handcock@stellantis.com

Mason Finney - Public Relations Manager

+44(0)7788 178394

mason.finney@peugeot.com

Michael Arnold - Press Fleet Manager

+44(0)7831 829410 

pressfleet@stellantis.com  

Jeremy Townsend - Director of Communications

+44(0)7827 896480

jeremy.townsend@stellantis.com

LINKS

PEUGEOT UK Press website

https://www.media.stellantis.com/uk-en/peugeot

ABOUT PEUGEOT

PEUGEOT is an inventive high-end mainstream brand. The ‘Power of Allure’ is our brand promise, epitomised in all of our models and services. Allure (attractive design), Emotion (instinctive driving pleasure) and Excellence (uncompromising quality, efficiency and technology) represent our values. PEUGEOT is present in more than 130 countries worldwide and sold more than 1,050,000 vehicles in 2022.  By 2025, all of our models (PC and LCV) will be electric. The PEUGEOT E-LION Project is a 360° approach to deliver our Carbon Net Zero objective by 2038. The electrified PEUGEOT 9X8 Hypercar demonstrates our passion for motorsport, competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans.