Polestar has released more details about the upcoming new version of the 4. Rumored to be a shooting brake, the model will be called SUV and will go on sale on September 2. In any case, it brings back the rear window, which was replaced by a camera on the original 4.
A rear window might sound like the bare minimum for a car, but the original Polestar 4, which was branded as a ‘coupé’ when news of an added version was released, deleted the rear glass entirely.
The driver looks at rear traffic through a digital rear-view mirror. Turns out, customers like to see what’s happening behind them through glass. Who knew?
Same underpinnings
A lot less daunting is the SUV name of the new variant. Obviously, the new 4 variant shares the same underpinnings as its sibling, but the silhouette will be more practical. It’s difficult to say how much more practical it is, as Polestar has only released a zoomed-in detail of the three-quarter rear.
With its estate-level cargo space and panoramic roof, the SUV is clearly aimed at buyers who want the pristine design language without the coupé’s compromised rear headroom.
Inevitably, changing the design affects aerodynamics and range. But with a projected WLTP range of 630 km for the rear-wheel-drive Long Range version, it remains comparable to the Coupé.
Such a figure puts it in a comfortable position in the premium EV segment, without touching the European 800 V competition (Mercedes GLC, BMW iX3, Volvo EX60), whose second-generation electric SUVs easily flirt with 800 kilometers.
A dual-motor variant will also be available, with up to 544 hp on tap. Both powertrain options draw from a 102 kWh battery pack and use a 400-volt network.
Europe mainly
Just like the Coupé, the SUV will be assembled in Busan, South Korea, which offsets trade barriers to European exports. Due to software constraints, the car is not eligible for sale in the US, meaning its core market remains Europe.
Almost eight out of ten Polestars are sold there. In Belgium, the model is a welcome addition to boost sales. Compared to last year, the brand registered 22.6% fewer units this year, putting it in the same field as Xpeng rather than Tesla.
The big question is whether the SUV body can fix the coupé’s biggest flaw: practicality. The original Polestar 4 had a stunning design, but the roofline squeeze makes it a tough sell for families. Trading some of that silhouette aggression for usability should come in handy for a brand that currently needs volume more than it needs design awards.
