Where’s the rear window on the new Polestar 4?

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.