Peugeot celebrates a decade of i-Cockpit

MANILA: Every Peugeot has the i-Cockpit as a “signature” feature. It is common to all models and tells a tale of a successful venture.

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot unveiled the Peugeot SR1 concept car, an alluring coupe-cabriolet that highlighted the brand's philosophy. This included a groundbreaking driving position that defied ergonomics and design norms.

The Peugeot teams at the time aimed to improve the ergonomics, safety, and onboard emotions of the driver's seat.  A small team of engineers and designers began working on it and fairly soon, a suggestion for a smaller steering wheel surfaced. Up until that point, a car's steering wheel was large, allowing the driver to see the information on the display through it. The typical placement of the display and steering wheel was deemed distracting, which was the justification for this decision. The information was most easily read when it was at eye level. It was necessary to put the information at eye level.

A new system with a display known as the “head-up display” was created by this new position and a smaller steering wheel. The addition of a touch screen streamlined all the controls and increased connectivity. This marked the introduction of touch screens for Peugeot.

“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 organized 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 excellent, very qualitative. The young people appreciated the sportiness, while the older ones felt that it was agile, that it was 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,” Peugeot Product Director Jerome Micheron stated.

When the i-Cockpit was made standard on the first-generation Peugeot 208 in 2012, it became an instant hit. It rapidly became recognized as a breakthrough that improved the driving experience.

The car became even more responsive to the driver's movements because of the compact steering wheel, and the need for the driver to move their arms to make the same maneuver is lessened. There is also less eye strain as the instruments are in front of the driver's eyes. The lower steering wheel enables more comfortable arm positions for the driver, while the main touchscreen enables intuitive control of the vehicle's primary functions.

Response time is also sped up by the compact steering wheel, eyes are kept on the road due to the elevated display, and dashboard alerts are easier to see. All of these lessen driver fatigue, therefore increasing safety.

The i-Cockpit also features a unique, technological design that enhances the driving experience.

The Peugeot i-Cockpit has evolved and become more advanced since its inception. 2016 saw the introduction of the 12.3-inch digital display for the second-generation Peugeot 3008 and 5008, which can be fully customized. Toggle switches are positioned beneath the central touchscreen to make access to key functions even easier. In 2019, the second-generation Peugeot 208 debuted a 3D digital cluster.

The new Peugeot 308, launched in 2021, and Peugeot 408, in 2022, introduced the new i-Connect infotainment system, a new compact steering wheel that can recognize the presence of the driver's hands when using the driving aids, and touch-sensitive i-toggles that can be configured for air-conditioning, phone contacts, radio station, and application launch settings.

“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,” Peugeot Interior Design Director Bertrand Rapatel said.

The Peugeot Inception concept, unveiled at CES 2023, depicts the potential evolution of the new Peugeot i-Cockpit. Even more intuitive, it depicts the i-Cockpit's advancement with the Hypersquare, a groundbreaking new steering control that offers new gestures for a younger generation raised with smart devices.

Photos from Stellantis

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