Polestar shows future vision with Precept concept car

Polestar shows the technical details behind its Precept concept car, the vision of the young, totally electrified Volvo/Geely daughter on the future of the car and mobility. The car itself was meant to be a star at the (canceled) Geneva Motor Show and launched online instead end of February.

“People ask me what’s the future for Polestar,” says Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath (ex-head of design Volvo Cars). “We won’t show our future models yet, but Precept shows the way we want to go. Three subjects are of utmost importance: design, sustainability, and digital experience.”

Sustainability

The interior of the Precept wants to show that you can combine high tech sustainable materials in a luxurious design and atmosphere. The vegan interior upholstery sets a step further from Polestar 2. There is a substantial part of recycled material involved.

Together with Bcomp, Polestar develops composites with flax as a primary material, replacing several plastics. Those composite materials are 50% lighter and have 80% less plastic components. Seats, for example, are woven out of one thread of 100% recycled PET-bottles – the same for the roof lining.

The ‘Econyl’ carpets are woven with Nylon 6, a product recycled from old fishing nets. Cork and other waste from the wine industry are used to make cork-vinyl for the seats and headrests.

Digital technology

Precept shows an advanced version of the Android-driven infotainment system in Polestar 2. The interface (15-inch screen) recognizes the driver when he comes closer to the screen, Google Assistant knows more languages than ever, dialects, and personal slang included.

The 9-inch instrument cluster has eye-tracking and adapts the size and the brightness of the info. Google Maps works together with the ADAS systems (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). Predictions and warnings based on traffic circumstances are far more accurate and displayed together in the driver display.

Design

As Polestar has no heritage, the design philosophy is pure avant-garde. The front fenders are integrated into the hood for better aerodynamics. Behind the front wheels are vents for better airflow. In the headlights, we see an evolution of the so-called Thor hammer design with separated lines.

The grid, unnecessary for an electric car, has been replaced by a ‘Polestar SmartZone’ regrouping all sensors and assistance devices. On top of the glass roof is a little ‘pod’ containing the LIDAR for the advanced, semi-autonomous driving.

The design of the car is long and sleek, with a considerable wheelbase giving room to a big battery pack. Doors are front-hinged in the front and rear-hinged in the rear, to open entirely on the interior. There is no conventional rear window, which gave more possibilities for the roof and tailgate configuration.

Cameras at the rear and on the sides register what’s happening along and behind the car and show it on two screens inside. A crystal projects a holographic Polestar emblem between the headrests of the rear seats. An inscription on the crystal displays the precise astronomic position of… the polestar.