HAMBURG: A newcomer has arrived in the upper class of electric cars. The Polestar 1, a futuristic-looking coupe from Volvo subsidiary Polestar, looks to be aimed at e-car makers such as Tesla and Nio, whildpa
not completely losing sight of long-established brands such as Audi and Mercedes either.
A two-door hybrid sports car that isn’t intended for mass production, the Polestar is powered by a two-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors.
There’s also another electric motor that acts as a starter motor and which provides extra torque during gear changes.
With the engine and electric motors combined, the car produces 600hp and 1,000 Nm of torque. That’s enough power to bring the Polestar from zero to 100kph in 4.2 seconds, despite its curb weight of just under 2.4 tonnes.
Top speed is 250kph, and because the two electric motors supplying power to the rear wheels can be precisely controlled, the car cuts through bends better than conventionally powered competitors in this class.
Most of the time, the two electric motors, each with 116hp, do the work, even at full throttle. The 309hp petrol engine really only cuts in when the batteries are empty, during long journeys under heavy loads or when the driver switches to power mode.
The Polestar 1, although not purely an electric car, has an above-average-sized battery at 34 kWh – and it requires correspondingly long charging times. However, at 124km on electric power, it has a greater range than other hybrids.
Fascinating as it is to drive, the Polestar can’t hide a few obvious defects it’s inherited. That’s because it was originally planned as a large, non-electric Volvo coupe.
As a result, the space in the rear is very limited, and the boot capacity is just 143 litres because of the batteries.
In addition to its drive system, the Polestar offers lots of other innovative technology, including a head-up display, online infotainment and a lavish package of assistance systems that includes cruise control with great autonomy.
Even though the China-built Polestar is a wholly owned Volvo subsidiary that uses the parent company’s parts, it also goes its own way. For example, instead of endless lists of options, Polestar only offers drivers a choice between different colours and wheel rims. Additionally, instead of ordering the car from a dealer, you order it online.
The car is certainly an eye-catcher and may make Polestar a brand that’s closer to Tesla than its parent company.
As an expensive toy (starting at US$180,000) for environmentally conscious high-speed drivers, it won’t make a significant contribution to the transition to e-cars.
But then it doesn’t have to. That’s up to successor models, and the Polestar 2 is already in the starting blocks. It costs half as much as the current model and is also wholly electric.
Keyword: Will Polestar 1 challenge Tesla in the top e-car class?