Polestar has thrown the rear window, well, out of the window on its latest addition to the range. Though the number in its nametag suggests otherwise, the cross-over coupé 4 slots exactly between the sedan 2 and the larger SUV 3. The new model was unveiled at the press day of Auto Shanghai.
Swedish-Chinese EV maker Polestar is gearing up its model expansion. The still-fresh SUV 3 will soon be accompanied by the 4, a more compact model with a steeper roofline and more than one design cue from the quintessential concept Precept, a source of inspiration for many a Polestar to come.
Looking behind by rear camera
So, those split headlights don’t come as a complete surprise. But the back does. As modern sensor and camera technology are shaping modern car design, the 4 is the first in its genre without a rear window. Feels awkward, and it does remind one of light commercial vehicles.
But as a rear camera on the roof – don’t get it smudged! – projects its images on a display inside (not a rear-view mirror, according to Polestar, even if it looks like one), the driver isn’t convicted of judging traffic by the side mirrors only. It’s not uncool, though, while a big panoramic roof compensates for airiness.
“It’s a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience,” commented Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. And there’s the catch. When the Polestar 4 goes into production by November this year, it will hit the Chinese marketplace first, a region reputed for its customer’s appetite for back-bench chauffeuring. Introductions in Europe and the US will follow in 2024.
Two Long-Range models
The sporty coupé styling also hints at another first. The 4 is the fastest Polestar to date, at least if you opt for the 544 hp dual motor version, which sits above the single motor base edition with a more ‘modest’ 272 hp. The top model can hit 0-100 km/hour in 3,8 seconds, beating the 2 Performance by a small margin.
The electric motor by the same battery pack as the 3, featuring 94 kWh of net capacity (gross: 102 kWh). Exact charging times remain disclosed, but the inverter can handle peak charging at 200 kW, while the car is capable of bidirectional charging – and vehicle-to-load for powering appliances – and has a heat pump as standard.
Downtuned versions are expected, as these two starter models are both called Long Range. The dual motor reaches a projected 560 kilometres; the single motor tops a whopping 600 kilometres.
Starting at 60 000 euros
As the 4 sits on the Sustainable Experience Architecture developed by Geely, the roomy interior benefits from a wheelbase of 2 999 millimeters. The car measures 4 839 millimeters (height: 1 544 mm, width: 2 139 mm). The upholstery is made from various recyclates, while the leather is vegan-based.
This has become common practice for Polestar. As is the integration of Android OS in the multimedia interface (15,4 inches wide). There’s also a 14,7-inch head-up display featuring a snow mode, which turns the font yellow instead of white. With twelve cameras, one radar and twelve ultrasonic sensors, active safety promises to be top-notch.
A novelty for the brand is the installed optimization function for journeys. Drivers can choose between range and performance, which in the dual motor engages a mechanical set-up, in which the front motor is cancelled out.
The dual-motor version is also equipped with a semi-active suspension. Finally, Polestar has also released a price indication of 60 000 euros. That would be the single-motor version, though Polestar doesn’t specify.
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