Concept cars are frequently flights of fancy, a means for a car manufacturer to show off a future design direction without immediately committing to making it a reality. However, every now and then – just when the stars aline – a concept proves so popular that its destiny shifts from show car to production machine. That’s exactly what’s happened with the Polestar Precept.
The Precept is an all-electric concept car from the new EV manufacturer, Polestar. Living under the Volvo umbrella, Polestar has already created an electric GT called the One, and a Tesla Model 3 rival predictably dubbed Two. It was expected that the ‘Three’ SUV planned for the future would take the intricate styling of the Precept, but the concept car proved so popular that the company announced at the Beijing Motor Show that the car will arrive wholesale as its own model in the coming years.
This Precept is a beautifully flowing machine that has a real elegance to its stance. More chiseled details give the car its identity, allowing this new design direction for Polestar to further depart from recognisable Volvo styling. A lack of door mirrors reduces drag with this car instead adopting camera-based system as seen on the Audi E-Tron and Honda E.
Access to the interior is granted by a pillarless doors, with the rear set being rear-hinged. It boasts more interior space than a Model S and a huge 12.5-inch infotainment system. The interior hosts flax-based natural composites to replace plastics. As a whole, the car uses 80% less plastic than conventional vehicles. The vegan cabin aims to use high levels of recycled materials with 3D knitted fabrics made from bottles, and carpets fashioned from reclaimed fishing nets.
The production variant of the Precept will be built in its manufacturing facility in China, a facility that soon aims to be carbon neutral. Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO commented: “With this new factory, we will again raise the bar, aiming to produce the most advanced and premium electric car in China with the lowest carbon footprint.”
The new Polestar brand has arguably come the closest to giving Tesla something to worry about.
You can check out all of the headlines from the 2020 Beijing Motor Show here.
Keyword: Polestar Precept destined for production