Volvo’s Polestar to launch first model in 2019

Established as a motorsport arm of Volvo in 1996, and bought by Volvo Cars July 2015, Polestar will now build and sell cars under its own name. Polestar today showcased its first model the 600hp ‘Polestar 1’. It also confirmed plans to launch other models from its new purpose-built production facility in China. 

Polestar also sold performance packages for Volvos under the Polestar Engineered name. In June, 2017 the company had revealed that it will develop standalone range of electric vehicles. The Polestar 1 will roll off the production line in mid-2019. Polestar's technology and product offering benefits from synergies and economies of scale enabled by the Volvo Car Group, helping it to accelerate design, development and production processes.

Commenting on the unveiling of the first car, Thomas Ingenlath, CEO, Polestar said; "All future cars from Polestar will feature a fully electric drivetrain, delivering on our brand vision of being the new standalone electric performance brand". 

The Polestar 1 is a two-door, 2+2 seat Grand Tourer Coupe with an 'Electric Performance Hybrid' drivetrain. The electric car supported by an internal combustion engine has a range of 150kms on pure electric power alone. Its output of 600hp and 1000Nm of torque places the car firmly in the performance car arena. It is based upon Volvo's Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) but approximately 50 percent is new and bespoke, created by Polestar's engineers. 

Polestar says this is the world's first car to be fitted with the all-new class-leading Ohlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) advanced chassis technology. A carbon fibre body reduces bodyweight and improves torsional stiffness by 45 percent, as well as lowering the cars' centre of gravity. Additionally it uses a double electric rear axle which enables torque vectoring. This supports the driver with precise acceleration on each wheel to keep the maximum road grip and maintain speed while cornering.

New Business Model

The production of the Polestar 1 will begin in mid-2018 at its facility in Chengdu, China that is currently under construction. As per the company, the new vehicle will also move away from today's traditional ownership model. The cars will be ordered 100 percent online and offered on a two or three year subscription basis. The zero-deposit, all-inclusive subscription will also add features such as pick-up and delivery servicing and the ability to rent alternative vehicles within the Volvo and Polestar range, all incorporated into one monthly payment. 

The flat rate subscription promises to enable a hassle free experience for the customer, facilitated by Phone-As-Key technology. It will allow the owners to share a virtual key with a third party, and enable access to a host of other on-demand features. 

The company also announced that all future cars will have a full electric powertrain. Its second vehicle ‘Polestar 2’ is scheduled to see production in 2019, making it the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from the Volvo Car Group. Polestar says it will be a mid-sized BEV, and will compete with models like the Tesla Model 3. The company expects consequently higher volumes for it than the Polestar 1.

Finally the third offering from the performance aimed company will be a larger SUV-style BEV, the Polestar 3, which will aim to create a modern expression of electric performance and driving dynamics. 

Interested customers can order and configure their Polestar cars online via a Polestar app or online portal. For physical engagement Polestar will open a network of Polestar Spaces around the world, where future Polestar customers can interact with products and the brand. These will be standalone facilities. 

The order books for the new Polestar 1 open on October, 17, 2017, where the company will take expressions of interest from prospective customers immediately.

Also read : Volvo Auto India launches S60 Polestar at Rs 52.5 lakh