10 years ago, with the first generation of the 208, Peugeot dared to revolutionize one of the least evolved elements in automotive history: the driving position.
Since then, almost 10 million Peugeot cars have been built with i-Cockpit which has been extended to the entire range. This new interior layout has contributed significantly to drivers’ and passengers’ feeling of safety and comfort and is now a characteristic feature of the French brand’s vehicles.
The i-Cockpit design rests to three fundamental elements that have remained unchanged since:
- A compact steering wheel for a better driving sensation and optimum handling
- An elevated display that allows the driver to view all driving related information while keeping their eyes on the road
- A large central touch screen, easily accessible and visible, which allows the driver to manage the main functions of the car
The i-Cockpit now an integral part of Peugeot’s DNAAvailable in all its models.
The history began in 2010 with the presentation of the Peugeot SR1 prototype at the Geneva Motor Show, an elegant coupé-cabriolet that showed part of the brand’s thinking. This included a revolutionary riding position that turned traditional codes of design and ergonomics upside down.
At that time, the Peugeot teams wanted to develop the driver’s seat for intuitive, more ergonomic and safer driving. TO A small team of designers and engineers began working in this direction and the proposal for a smaller steering wheel quickly emerged. arguing that this innovation allowed information to be read at eye level without the interference of other elements. A touch screen was added, which made all the controls much simpler and added connectivity. This was the beginning of touch screens for Peugeot.
his first generation Peugeot 208 caused a sensation with the introduction of i-Cockpit as standard equipment. It quickly established itself as an innovation that transformed the driver experience:
- More driving pleasure: thanks to the compact steering wheel, the car is even more flexible in the driver’s movements, who also needs to move his hands less for the same maneuver
- More driving comfort: with the instruments at eye level, driving becomes more relaxing. The lowered steering wheel allows the driver’s hands to be positioned at more comfortable angles, and the central touchscreen allows intuitive control of the vehicle’s main functions.
- Optimized safety: the compact steering wheel makes for quicker reactions, the raised screen keeps eyes more focused on the road, and notifications on the dashboard are more visible.
Since its appearance, the Peugeot i-Cockpit has continued to evolve and modernise. In 2016, the second generation of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 presented a version with a fully customizable 12.3-inch digital screen and customize, while toggle switches have been positioned below the central touch screen to make accessing key features even easier. In 2019, the second generation of the Peugeot 208 introduced a 3D digital instrument panel.
The Peugeot i-Cockpit went one step further in the new Peugeot 308 (2021) and 408 (2022) with the introduction of the new i-Connect infotainment systema new compact steering wheel that can detect the presence of the driver’s hands when using driving aids and touch-sensitive i-toggles that can be set for air conditioning, phone contacts, radio stations and application launch settings that can be adjust at user’s discretion
The Peugeot Inception concept, unveiled at the CES show in Las Vegas earlier this year, shows the evolution that the new Peugeot i-Cockpit could have. Even more intuitive, it shows the future evolution of the i-Cockpit with Hypersquare, a revolutionary new steering wheel that offers a new way of driving for a new generation, which grew up with tablets and smart devices.
source: car and motor
