Imaginatively called the, erm, Polestar 2
Swedish brand Polestar, the company closely associated with Volvo, has released a teaser image of its next car. Imaginatively called the, erm, Polestar 2, it is expected to be a machine that’ll take on the Tesla Model 3 both in terms of form and function.
As with most teaser shots, the release from Polestar doesn’t tell us everything but does provide a decent glimpse into the 2’s basic shape. A wide band of red stretching across the car’s rear fascia indicates it will bear an expressive set of tail lights, perhaps bookended with those natty boomerangs currently cropping up across the Volvo line.
One can also tell from the image that the Polestar 2 (seriously, who’s naming these things? We could’ve suggested a Norse god or two) will have a sleek fastback profile thanks to an enormous rear window. The top of its trunklid area is quite narrow, a design feature that generally suggests the presence of a hatchback like that found on the Audi A7. However, a slight curve is baked into the lid’s edge where it meets the rear window and Volvo specifically calls the 2 a “four-door” in its press release, so its trunk may end up being similar to that of the Tesla Model 3.
As for what’s under the skin, expect a fully electric powertrain capable of producing 400 horsepower. The company isn’t talking specifics about the 2’s total electric range just yet but a figure in the 480km range seems to be the most commonly-held expectation.
We do know it’ll be built on Volvo’s compact modular platform (CMA) which is the architecture currently underpinning the popular XC40. CMA was designed from the get-go to accept an all-electric powertrain, so it would not be a surprise to find it underneath other Polestar and Volvo EVs in the future.
The company explicitly states the Polestar 2 will be similarly priced to the Model 3, giving Tesla’s volume production car some serious competition. The Polestar 1, a 600hp performance hybrid coupe with two electric motors, is slated to enter production this summer. Don’t hold your breath for this second model from Polestar to be put on sale before its big brother appears.
As a start-up electric car brand owned by Volvo Car Group, Polestar plans to offer electric performance cars with what they’re touting as a ‘fully digital’ customer experience.
“We also want to remove the hassle from traditional car ownership,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer at Polestar. “The customer will be able to research, configure, and order their car online. They can choose our innovative subscription model that enables them to have all their motoring costs covered by one single monthly payment.”
Expect to see the Polestar 2 and all its electrified guts at this year’s auto show in Geneva, scheduled for early March.
Keyword: Tesla Fighter: Polestar Previews Its Next EV