Polestar has steadily established itself in the premium EV market over the last few years. The company is now looking to add a new midsize SUV to its lineup that sits between the sleek Polestar 2 and the spacious Polestar 3.
The purpose of the Polestar 4 was to create an ‘SUV coupe’, but not in the usual way. If you haven’t understood the terminology change over the years, it’s a crossover with a steep roofline and four doors. Such designs are often based on existing SUVs, sacrificing rear headroom in the process. Polestar has avoided this with a clean seat design that focuses on the comfort of the rear seat occupants. “The Polestar 4 was designed from the ground up as a new type of his SUV coupe that celebrates the comfort and experience of its rear seat occupants,” said Polestar CEO Thomas Heingenrath.
It will also be the fastest Polestar car ever. With a maximum output of 544 horsepower from the all-wheel drive dual-motor drivetrain, he sprints from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.8 seconds. A single-motor model is also available in a rear-wheel drive configuration and puts out 272 horsepower on tap.
Long range models with either drivetrain will have a 102 kWh battery. The single-motor version has the longest range, with Polestar targeting over 300 miles on the EPA rating system. All models will have 22 kW AC charging available as standard in addition to 200 kW DC fast charging. Vehicle-to-Load functionality will be available from launch, allowing owners to use his Polestar 4 as a portable power source.
As seen on the Polestar Precept concept car, the Polestar 4 does away with the traditional rear window. Instead, a full-length glass roof extends to the rear behind the second row. It has electrochromic functionality so you can block out the sun as needed without the need for traditional fabric shades.
As with EVs, aerodynamic efficiency was a major factor in the design. In this case, features such as retractable door handles and flush windows minimize drag.Airflow on the back
Optimized around the rear light bar, sections act as ‘aero blades’, creating a ‘free-floating vortex’ to further reduce vehicle drag.
Inside, Polestar continues to rely on the basics of a sleek, clean aesthetic. Interior renderings at this stage feature the brand’s signature gold seatbelts, which contrast nicely with the white interior finish. Sustainability is also gaining attention. Some components are manufactured in a “mono-material” method where all layers are made from the same base material to improve recyclability.
The Polestar 4 will go into production in November 2023 at the company’s factory in Hangzhou Bay, China. It will be available in the US in 2024, with a “reference launch price” starting at around $60,000.
The midsize SUV market is always hot. Polestar is a sleek, modern EV looking to get into a luxury car with lots of great design features. Whether or not its cool Scandinavian charm will be loved by a wider audience remains to be seen.
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