Peugeot will introduce the new ‘STLA Small’ platform in 2026 with the second generation of the e-208. It allows significantly higher battery capacities and ranges. Inside, the electric small car is set to feel distinctly futuristic and airy.
Since the launch of the current generation, which has been on sale since 2019, Peugeot has been a pioneer in small electric cars, offering a fully electric version of the 208. According to the British car magazine Autocar, the French automaker will take a further step and offer the third edition of its best-selling model solely as an electric vehicle. Production is planned to start at the end of 2026.
At Stellantis, they are, of course, aware of buyers’ reluctance in some markets toward purely electric vehicles and will continue producing the combustion-engine versions of the current model alongside the new e-208 for an undisclosed period.
New platform
With the next generation, the 208 will become an actual technology carrier within its parent group. As Stellantis’ best-selling B-segment model, it will mark the series debut of the new STLA Small platform. A few months later, in 2027, the next Opel Corsa will follow suit on the same technical basis. Both technical siblings are expected to be produced, like their predecessors, in Saragossa, Spain.
The new platform promises a significant step forward, particularly in terms of range. Despite the vehicle’s relatively small footprint, it should allow significantly higher battery capacities. The technical specs of the concept car unveiled in the summer, the Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo, provide a strong indication of what to expect from the new architecture. The racing car’s underbody houses an 82 kWh battery, while entry-level versions are rumored to start at 37 kWh.
+500 km range
The current e-208, based on the ‘e-CMP’ platform, features a battery pack with a maximum energy capacity of 52 kWh. It enables a WLTP range of 432 kilometers. Thanks to the much larger battery, the next generation of the small car is expected to surpass the 500-kilometer mark in standard range.
The current e-208 features a 115 kW motor under the hood. Its successor is expected to deliver a similar performance. Last summer, Peugeot launched a 206 kW (280 hp) GTi version of its electric small car. A sporty top version is also more than likely for the next generation.
New, airy interior
With the generational change, Peugeot’s small car will grow subtly while also receiving a visual overhaul. The current 208 is one of the few Peugeot models not yet featuring the brand’s face seen on the 3008, 5008, and 308.
Inside, the French company promises a revolution. The Concept Car ‘Polygon’, to be unveiled in November, will preview the cockpit layout of the upcoming 208.
For the first time, Peugeot used steer-by-wire technology in the concept. By dispensing with a conventional steering column, the front passengers benefit from a more open, airy feeling. The screen panel on top of the dashboard is already familiar in its basic form from the 3008.
Both the Polygon and the series e-208 will feature a rectangular steering wheel instead of a round one. Peugeot had already hinted at this almost three years ago with the CES study ‘Inception‘.
Speaking previously to Autocar, the former Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson called the set-up “technically superior” and said that the steer-by-wire technology “enhances something absolutely fundamental for Peugeot: driving pleasure.”
Pricing for newcomers will likely remain in the same region as the current one, but with the new technical possibilities, there is, of course, room to expand upward.
