Polestar 1
Behold the Polestar 1, a 592bhp plug-in hybrid coupe with an unprecedented 93-mile electric range, on sale in 2019
Remember a few months back when Volvo’s rare-groove performance arm, Polestar, announced it wanted to reinvent itself as the electric performance-car brand? Well, it’s not messing about. This is the Polestar 1 (note logical naming policy, Audi) and it’s not a concept, it’s the real thing – a 592bhp, plug-in hybrid, M4-sized, 2+2 coupe you will be able to own from mid-2019. And yes, it’s near identical to the Volvo Coupe Concept from 2013.
While this car is a stopgap between petrol and electric, Polestar has confrmed subsequent models will feature pure electric drivetrains. These include Polestar 2 – a saloon in late 2019 that “will join the competition around the Tesla Model 3” – and Polestar 3, a larger SUV EV “sitting between Polestar 1 and Polestar 2 in terms of volume and pricing.”
Back to Polestar 1, the “halo” car of the group, which – unlike most plug-in hybrids with their measly 31-mile (50km) EV-only range – will travel a full 93 miles (150km) on a single charge. That’s enough for a proper-sized commute without troubling the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Ask that to join in and you have 592bhp, 728lb ft of torque, and four-wheel drive at your disposal. No performance or kerbweight fgures yet, but we suspect 0–62mph in something beginning with a 3…
A pair of electric motors on the rear axle, producing a total of 215bhp and separated by a planetary gear set, mean RWD when you’re in pure-EV mode and proper torque-vectoring when you’re on it. Then, dealing with what will inevitably be a signifcant mass, is an Akebono braking system with sizeable 400mm discs and new electronic Öhlins suspension that adapts to the road surface and your driving style automatically, or is switchable according to your tastes.
Polestar claims carbon-fbre body panels reduce bodyweight by 230kg and usefully lower the centre of gravity. Inside, you’ll note an interior rebadged but lifted wholesale from the S90 – more partssharing to make the Polestar sums add up.
Only 500 Polestar 1s will be made in total, at a brand-new factory being built in Chengdu, China – a McLaren-esque glass palace due for completion in mid-2018. The order books are open now, but there are no prices in the traditional sense. Every Polestar will be sold via monthly subscription, on a two- or three-year contract. No deposit, just a TBC fat rate that includes insurance, maintenance and access to other Volvos should you, for example, require more space for a family holiday. When your time’s up, you simply hand it back and swap it for a shiny new Polestar, much like a 592bhp mobile phone.
Always losing your car key? Great news! Polestar’s Phone-as-Key lets you use your mobile. You can share your key virtually with anyone else, too