Polestar 4 Revealed, US Production Of Polestar 3 Planned For 2024

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Polestar pulled the covers off of its latest offering — the Polestar 4 — at the Shanghai auto show this week to reveal the very latest thinking on how to make a car that can be called an SUV but which resembles a coupe — or coupé if you live in Europe or the UK.

Any electric car needs the lowest aerodynamic drag possible. Having a tall roof that is chopped off in the rear — which is what most SUVs were originally — is not aerodynamically efficient. Polestar has decided to address the conflict between carrying capacity and aerodynamics by having a smoothly sloping roofline and eliminating the rear window. Yes, you read that right. The Polestar 4 will have a rear-facing camera but no rear window — although, the glass roof does extend far enough back to permit a letter-slot-sized view of what’s going on behind the car.

The company says the Polestar 4 is the fastest vehicle yet in its model lineup and is positioned between Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 in terms of size and price. “With Polestar 4 we have taken a fundamental new approach to SUV coupé design. Rather than simply modifying an existing SUV, giving it a faster roofline and as a result, compromising elements like rear headroom and comfort, we have designed Polestar 4 from the ground up as a new breed of SUV coupé that celebrates rear occupant comfort and experience,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s CEO.

Eliminating the rear window enables a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience, the company says. Aerodynamic efficiency is enhanced by the low nose, retractable door handles, flush glazing with frameless windows, rear aero blades, and air flow optimization around the rear light bar.

The Polestar 4 will be built on the company’s Sustainable Experience Architecture. It is a D-segment car with a 3-meter-long wheelbase and a length overall of 4.8 meters. The width is 2.1 meters, and it is 1.5 meters tall. Observant readers will note the similarity in dimensions, particularly in length, to the Volkswagen ID.7 which was also unveiled in China this week.

The resulting generous interior proportions are especially evident in the rear, the company says. “Rear seat passengers are cocooned in an intimate environment, with reclining seats. Adjustable ambient lighting adds an extra dimension to the interior. Inspired by the solar system, it allows the driver to customize the driving environment. A secondary media and climate control screen is mounted between the front seats to enable rear occupant control.”

Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar, says: “With Polestar Precept we previewed a stunning new occupant experience by removing the rear window and pushing the rear header, which plays an integral safety role, further back. This means that now, rear occupants can have a unique experience in our SUV coupé.”

Polestar 4 & Sustainability

In Polestar 4, more recyclable and low-carbon materials replace traditional solutions. Greater supply chain transparency includes blockchain traceability for risk materials in the batteries. A full life cycle assessment showing the true carbon footprint of the car will be published alongside the Polestar 4 Product Sustainability Declaration in 2024.

Where possible, interior trim is made from one source, which allows for more efficient recycling because there is no need to separate various materials with different characteristics from each other. Inlay carpets in the interior are made using recycled PET and floor carpets are made using ECONYL, which includes reclaimed fishing nets. Specific door trim panels are made from NFPP (natural fiber polypropylene), which results in up to 50% less virgin plastic and a weight saving of up to 40%.

Performance & Technology

Polestar 4 is the fastest production car from the company to date. 0 to 100 km/h takes just 3.8 seconds thanks to a maximum power output of 400 kW (544 hp). The electric motors are of a permanent magnet, synchronous design. Driving dynamics are true to the Polestar brand — sharp steering and handling responses result in a thrilling and nimble driving experience for all occupants.

Single-motor, rear-wheel-drive versions will be available, as well as dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variants. Semi-active suspension features in the dual-motor version will provide an additional layer of adjustment between comfort and performance dynamics.

A 102 kWh battery is fitted to both long-range versions. The Long Range Dual Motor features 400 kW (544 hp), 686 Nm of torque, and a preliminary range target of up to 560 km WLTP. A disconnect clutch allows the car to disengage the front electric motor when not needed to maximize range and efficiency. The Long Range Single Motor version features a 200 kW (272 hp) and 343 Nm motor at the rear and preliminary range target of up to 600 km WLTP.

200 kW DC and 22 kW AC charging is included for all versions. Bi-directional charging is included that enables vehicle-to-load capability. A heat pump is fitted as standard, which allows the car to capitalize on ambient heat when preconditioning the cabin and battery.

In the Polestar 4, the infotainment system is powered by Android Automotive, which means Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play are available via the 15.2″ landscape-oriented touchscreen. Over-the-air updates are standard. A Harman Kardon audio system with 12 speakers and a 1,400 watt amplifier is available, as are an additional two headrest speakers for each front seat. Apple CarPlay is also included.

Driver Assistance

The Mobileye SuperVision Advanced Driver Assistance System is part of the safety features built in to the Polestar 4. It relies on a total of twelve cameras, one radar, and twelve ultrasonic sensors. One of the cameras monitors the driver’s eyes and head movements to help avoid incidents related to fatigue or incapacitation. Together with hands-on detection in the steering wheel, the driver monitoring system helps to keep the driver actively engaged in driving. No recordings are made from the input supplied by the driver monitoring camera.

A head-up display with a 14.7 inch projection area in front of the driver relays key vehicle, telephone, and navigation information to the windscreen, further improving driver attentiveness. The display can be changed from white to yellow to improve visibility in snowy conditions. The optional Pilot Pack includes enhanced Pilot Assist with lane change assistance, initiated by the driver tapping the indicator stalk in the desired direction.

Production, Availability, & Pricing

Production of the Polestar 4 is expected to begin in Hangzhou Bay, China, in November of this year. That state-of-the-art Geely-owned production facility operates on 100% renewable electricity.

A full-scale launch for other markets, including in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, is planned for early 2024, with sales and production ramping up for these markets through the course of that year. Pricing is expected to be approximately €60,000, $60,000, and £55,000. More pricing details will be announced closer to the start of production.

Polestar 3 Production Coming To South Carolina

Also in Shanghai this week, Thomas Ingenlath told Reuters, “We have an opportunity to go to South Carolina with Polestar 3. The new EV brands that are building up, they can’t go out immediately to build factories there. You need a decent volume.”

Polestar has been producing its existing three models at two factories in China, one in the southwestern city of Chengdu and another in the eastern coastal city of Taizhou. It has been exporting the Chinese made vehicles to overseas markets, including the US and Europe. He said production of the Polestar 3 is expected to begin in South Carolina in 2024 to serve American and European markets.

So far, Polestar has avoided the price cutting that is roiling the EV market, particularly in China. Last month, Ingenlath told the press the company’s aim is to become “a very premium sports car company.” In fact, it says its Polestar 3 SUV is a direct competitor for the popular Porsche Cayenne. The people at Porsche would beg to differ, of course.