Peugeot is preparing to launch the new generation of its 208 in 2026, marking one of the most significant milestones for the Stellantis group to date. This model marks the beginning of a new era for compact cars within the group. It will be exclusively electric and will be based on the new STLA Small platform, with a sophisticated interior design that includes a square steering wheel and advanced digital technologies.
The Peugeot 208 will be the first vehicle produced using the STLA Small platform, which was developed to underpin the next generation of Stellantis small and medium-sized vehicles. This platform is essential to strengthening the company’s competitiveness in the European affordable car market, as it will be used in A- to C-segment vehicles, replacing the CMP/e-CMP architecture currently used in the Peugeot 208, 2008, and Vauxhall Corsa models.
The group chose the 208 model to launch the new platform due to its importance in European markets, as it is one of Peugeot’s best-selling vehicles. During the first half of 2025, the car recorded sales of 109,146 units, ranking third behind the Renault Clio and Dacia Sandero, according to Jato Dynamics data.
Although the new platform supports hybrid and electric powertrains, the third-generation 208 will be offered exclusively in an electric version, a policy that will also be followed by the next-generation Corsa, the car’s technical sibling. However, Peugeot is expected to continue producing the internal combustion engine version based on the current CMP platform alongside the new electric version, due to the uncertainties in the electric vehicle market.
Peugeot CEO Alain Favy confirmed that the brand is fully committed to an electric future, but at the same time remains committed to providing customers with freedom of choice regarding their preferred powertrain.
The battery capacity of the STLA Small cars will range between 37 and 82 kWh, and the new Peugeot 208 is likely to use the largest battery in this range, especially since the Vauxhall Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept, based on the same platform, features an 82 kWh battery. This is expected to significantly increase the car’s range compared to the current model, which features a 52 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 268 miles.
Horsepower details for the new generation engines have yet to be announced, but the car is expected to maintain its current level of at least 156 hp, with a more powerful version likely to be introduced in the future. The Corsa GSE concept, equipped with two electric motors producing a combined output of 395 hp, hints at the possibility of a sportier version of the 208 bearing the GTi badge in the future.
Peugeot is expected to reveal the 208 Polygon concept in November, which will focus on dynamic performance and road holding. This concept will showcase a new interior design, representing a significant evolution of Peugeot’s popular i-Cockpit concept. Instead of the small, circular steering wheel, the new car will be equipped with the rectangular Hypersquare steering control system, which debuted on the 2023 Inception concept and will be linked to a steer-by-wire system first used in Stellantis vehicles.
The new 208 will also feature a 21-inch curved panoramic screen similar to the one found in the 3008, with customizable shortcut buttons. Former Peugeot CEO Linda Jackson described this system as a technological breakthrough that enhances driving pleasure and gives the cabin a more spacious feel.
In terms of exterior design, the car is expected to draw inspiration from Peugeot’s latest models, such as the 308, 3008, and 5008, with a bolder front end and design details that reflect Peugeot’s new identity. The car’s dimensions are also likely to be slightly larger than the current generation, with data indicating an increase of approximately 130 mm in length and 105 mm in width, giving it a more powerful presence on the road.
The third-generation Peugeot 208 will be manufactured at the Stellantis plant in Zaragoza, Spain, alongside the Corsa, with production starting in late 2026. The new Corsa is scheduled to launch in early 2027 as the first model following the 208 to use the STLA Small platform, followed later by the new generation Peugeot 2008.
