Polestar has debuted the new Polestar 3, which is the brand’s first SUV. Production of the Polestar 3 will take place at Volvo’s facility in Chengdu, China, and later also in South Carolina. Deliveries are expected to begin in Q2 2023 and the price of the Polestar 3 is €89,900 (approx. RM 409,076) in Germany.
Taking inspiration from the Polestar Precept, the Polestar 3 features a dual-blade headlight design in front. There are also many aerodynamic features on the exterior including a front aero wing integrated into the bonnet, an aero wing integrated into the rear spoiler, and rear aero blades.
Standard exterior features on the Polestar 3 are LED lights, retractable door handles, and 21-inch alloy wheels. At the front end of the Polestar 3 is a “Smart Zone” below the front aero wing that houses several front sensors, a heated radar module, and a camera.
Powering the Polestar 3 is a dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD) system that makes 360 kW (489 hp) and 840 Nm on the standard car. With a “Performance Pack”, the numbers can be bumped up to 380 kW (517 hp) and 910 Nm. 0-100 km/h acceleration is done in 5.0 seconds in the standard version and 4.7 seconds with the Performance Pack. The AWD system has a rear wheel bias, but you can decouple the rear axle in certain circumstances (and only use the front axle) to save energy.
Supplying electricity to the dual motor system is a 111-kWh battery pack. On the standard version, the battery can provide up to 610 km of range (WLTP). Charging times have not been revealed but the Polestar 3 can handle 11-kW AC charging and 250-kW DC Fast charging. The car also is also capable of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-grid connectivity (V2X).
In the handling department, the Polestar 3 comes with electric torque vectoring and a dual-clutch function on the rear axle. Standard on the Polestar 3 is a dual-chamber air suspension system that can be adjusted for either comfort or dynamic driving.
Inside, the Polestar 3 features animal welfare-certified leather with fully traceable wool upholstery and a panoramic glass roof as standard. Smack in the centre of the dashboard is a 14.5-inch touchscreen display that runs on Android Automotive that has been co-developed with Google. It also supports Over The Air (OTA) updates.
Safety-wise, one of the highlights of the Polestar 3 is the interior radar sensor system that can detect sub-millimetre movement in the cabin, preventing users from accidentally leaving their children or pets in the car. The interior radars are also linked to the vehicle’s climate control system to avoid heat stroke or hypothermia.
The latest Advanced Driver Assistance Sytems (ADAS) in the Polestar 3 has been developed in collaboration with Zenseact, Luminar, and SmartEye. There are five radar modules, five external cameras, and 12 external ultrasonic sensors on the Polestar 3.
For the first model year, the Polestar 3 will be fitted with the Plus Pack and Pilot Pack as standard. This includes a 25-speaker audio system from Bowers & Wilkins with 3D surround sound, Dolby Atmos capability, soft closing doors, Head-up Display (HUD), and pilot assist.
The Pilot Pack that includes LiDAR from Luminar will add an additional control unit from NVIDIA, three cameras, four ultrasonic sensors, and cleaning for the front- and rear-view cameras, providing accurate real-time data about the car’s surroundings, especially in the long-range field. This enables enhanced 3D scanning of the car’s surroundings in greater detail and helps prepare the car for autonomous driving.
Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath said, “Polestar 3 is a powerful electric SUV that appeals to the senses with a distinct, Scandinavian design and excellent driving dynamics. It takes our manufacturing footprint to the next level, bringing Polestar production to the United States. We are proud and excited to expand our portfolio as we continue our rapid growth.”
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Keyword: New Polestar 3 debuts as brand’s first SUV – 610 km range, up to 517 hp & 910 Nm