Polestar, Volvo’s noble electric subsidiary, has unveiled the third model in the company’s young history. As announced earlier in the summer, the Polestar 3 is an upper mid-range SUV. Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath says the 4.90-metre-long and 1.61-metre-high vehicle was designed to combine Scandinavian purity with the key features of an SUV: “The Polestar 3 is a high-performance electric SUV with attractive features. Pure Scandinavian design. and appeals to all the senses with its excellent driving dynamics.»
Despite its powerful stature, emphasis was placed on aerodynamics. It has been applied to design elements such as the rear aero wing and aero blades integrated into the front of the hood and rear spoiler. There are also additional elements such as split headlights or the so-called SmartZone. “This area under the front aero wing, which houses multiple forward-facing sensors, a heated radar module and a camera, will be a hallmark of the Polestar design,” said Ingenlath. Said.
Big Brother inside and out
The list of specifications is long: The Polestar 3 has five radar modules as standard, five external cameras and twelve ultrasonic sensors, the data from which is processed in the new software platform from chip specialist Nvidia. The latest innovation, developed by Polestar’s parent company Volvo, is interior radar sensors that detect when children or pets are unintentionally left in the vehicle. The system connected to the air conditioner can cool or heat in an emergency to prevent heatstroke or hypothermia.
The interior, on the other hand, looks like something other than technoite in the first pictures: simple and elegant, with sustainable materials in natural colors like biocompatible microfibers, animal-safe leather and fully traceable wool covers. In the middle of the cockpit sits a 14.5-inch touchscreen, like the Polestar 2, using Android Automotive OS developed with Google. As is the case today, updates can be delivered “over the air” without having to go to a service point.
Power from two electric hearts
In principle, however, the 3 Series remains a car to drive: the launch model has an electric motor per axle that together deliver a maximum of 490 hp (360 kW) and 840 Nm of torque. With the optional performance package, power even rises to 517 hp (380 kW) and 910 Nm. The Polestar 3 should sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds (4.7 s in performance) and reach a top speed of 210 km/h. In addition to adjustable single-pedal drive, the SUV is equipped with an electric torque vectoring dual clutch on the rear axle that can disengage the rear engine for greater efficiency and temporarily converts the Polestar 3 from all-wheel drive to front-wheel drive. .
In addition, a new adaptive air suspension is used to switch between more comfortable and dynamic suspension characteristics. The vehicle can electronically adjust the active damper speed every two milliseconds. “Our goal was to deliver the performance and precision that characterizes all Polestar vehicles without sacrificing everyday driving comfort,” says Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s Chief Chassis Engineer.
Long range, high prices
The 111 kilowatt-hour battery in the lower body provides enough energy, thanks to which the Polestar 3 can travel up to 610 kilometers. The maximum DC charging power is 250 kW. A heat pump is standard on board, which can use ambient heat for air conditioning and battery conditioning. The Polestar 3 is also equipped for bidirectional charging.
Prices for the launch model have already been set, although production at cooperation partner Geely’s China plant in Chengdu is not scheduled to begin until mid-2023: The comprehensively equipped Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Engine is listed at CHF 99,900. Online orders are now possible. The first vehicles for the European market are expected to appear in the fall of 2023. Additional production at the US plant in Ridgeville is expected in mid-2024. The Polestar 3 would later become the brand’s first model to be produced on two continents.