Speaking exclusively to CarsGuide at an event in Sydney, Polestar has confirmed when you will be able to order its next model in Australia.
The Polestar 3 performance SUV is the much-anticipated follow-up to the Polestar 2 crossover, and debuts a new platform for the brand which it will share with its Swedish relation, the Volvo EX90.
While expressions of interest have been open for some time, the order books will officially open in February of 2023, according to Polestar Australia’s managing director, Samantha Johnson.
“We can say today, February 2023 is where we will turn on the start of sales,” she said. “At this stage, we are still expecting deliveries in Q1 of 2024.”
Ms Johnson confirmed the brand was still experiencing wait times courtesy of supply chain issues plaguing the whole industry, and warned that the list of people interested in the Polestar 3 was already extensive.
“We don’t give out our official projections for sales, but there are currently 4000 people at the moment on the waitlist for Polestar 3, and we still have over a year to go until it arrives,” she said.
“We’re delivering every single car which hits the ground in Australia at the moment,” she continued. “We’re definitely still on target to hit our goals in Australia. The brand has just built the 100,000th Polestar 2, and is on track to hit [ambitious] sales targets globally.”
The Polestar 3 expressly targets high-end performance SUV rivals like the Porsche Cayenne, according to Ms Johnson, and while we don’t have a firmer idea of price yet, it is understood to cost around $135,000.
Currently, expressions of interest for the Polestar 3 are open, as is a configurator on the Australian site. It shows just one Long Range Dual Motor variant, which will produce 360kW/840Nm with the option to equip the Performance Pack in a similar vein to the current Polestar 2. Its battery capacity comes in at a massive 111kWh, allowing for a 610km driving range.
The launch Long Range Dual Motor will also come equipped with the Pilot Pack (which includes adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and other active safety outside of lane keep and auto emergency braking) and the Plus Pack (which includes a high-end stereo system, premium interior trim and larger wheels) as standard, although CarsGuide understands these will become optional as the Polestar 3 range is fleshed out by 2025.
Inside, the Polestar 3 features an enormous portrait-oriented 14.5-inch multimedia touchscreen, a 9.0-inch digital instrument cluster, tri-zone climate, ‘Bio-attributed’ seat trim, 21-inch wheels, LED headlights, a fixed panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and automatic ignition, eight-way power adjust front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
The Polestar 3 has a more coupe-SUV style than the related Volvo EX90, complete with a front spoiler. It has 484-litres of boot space with the rear seats up, or 1411-litres with the seats down, it also has as 32-litre storage cubby under the bonnet.
Charging-wise the Polestar 3 can top-up at a rate of 250kW on DC, allowing a 10-80 percent charge time in a claimed 30 minutes, or 11kW on AC allowing a 0-100 percent charge in 11 hours.
While there is only one variant for now, it is understood that a more affordable Single Motor variant will become available at a later date, although little is known about that particular drivetrain.
Polestar has a packed production schedule for the next few years, with the launch of the Polestar 3 followed by a Polestar 4 mid-size SUV, Polestar 5 GT car, and a production variant of its electric roadster concept, dubbed the Polestar 6, in 2024, 2025, and 2026 respectively.
The Polestar 6 already has deposit-paying customers lining up, and the initial limited-edition 500-unit run which will mirror the concept car in specification is already sold out.
Stay tuned for Australian Polestar 3 pricing closer to its February 2023 start-of-sale date.
Keyword: Get in quick! When you can order a 2024 Polestar 3 and everything we know so far about the fully electric Porsche Cayenne, Audi e-Tron, and Jaguar i-Pace rival