New Polestar 1 hybrid coupe 17 | 10 | 2017
POLESTAR, PREVIOUSLY VOLVO’S performance sub-brand, has revealed its first standalone model, the Polestar 1. Set for production in 2019, the Polestar 1 will be built exclusively at a new facility in China. Significantly though, while it will be available to markets worldwide, including the UK, it will be left-hand drive only. Prices are expected to start around £115,000 (€130,000). Only 500 will be built annually.
Polestar 1 will be available through a new subscription service, similar to that being offered by Volvo on the new XC40.
One monthly payment covers insurance and maintenance, and will also provide customers with on-demand services for short-term access to other vehicles. (Related: Scots giant plans new Volvo dealership)
Polestar envisages subscriptions lasting for two or three years, at the end of which the car will be replaced with a new one. The old vehicle is then refurbished and offered via subscription as a second-hand model.
Polestar today revealed its production-ready coupe, alongside news of two further all-electric products in the pipeline: a Tesla Model 3-rivalling saloon and a larger SUV, badged Polestar 2 and 3 respectively.
Touted as an “Electric Performance Hybrid”, Polestar 1 delivers a total of 592bhp and 1000Nm of torque via a 338bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine powering the front wheels, and a starter motor generator injecting an additional 39bhp. There’s also a bank of of electric motors which send 215bhp to the rear axle.
Polestar says the car will cover 0-60mph in under 4secs. The car will also have an electric-only range of 93 miles.
In addition to the high-performance hybrid powertrain, the Polestar 1 gets a driver-configurable active suspension from specialist Ohlins. According to Polestar, the system can react to changes in the road surface in less than two milliseconds.
Look closely and you’ll realise Polestar has taken the design language of the Volvo S90 saloon and smoothed it into a 2+2 coupe format. At 4500mm in length, it’s shorter than the S90, and also has a 320mm shorter wheelbase than the saloon.
The front-end boasts Volvo’s signature grille, which is flanked by ‘Thor’s Hammer’ LED headlights. The side of the car is uncluttered, sporting clean lines, while C-shaped tail-lamps inject a little flair into the squared-off rear end, complete with Polestar badging.
Polestar 1 also tips the scales 230kg lighter than the steel construction thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre in the body panels.
Related: Polestar boost for Volvo XC60
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Jim McGill