Volvo’s performance sub-brand, Polestar, has revealed their first standalone product. Christened as Polestar 1, the car is a standalone hybrid ‘super’ coupe that will form a halo for the Polestar brand.
The Polestar 1 is a two-door, four-seater Grand Tourer Coupé with an ‘Electric Performance Hybrid’ drivetrain. The Polestar 1 boasts of power figures that will put supercars to shame – 592bhp and 1000Nm. The 1 is powered by two electric motors driving the rear wheels. The motors are coupled with a Volvo Drive-E 377bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine powering the front wheels. The electric car is supported by an internal combustion engine which claims a range of 150 kilometres on pure electric power.
Appearance wise, the Polestar 1 looks like a coupe version of the S90 sedan. Even the cabin is akin to the Volvo brethren. The headlamps are Thor’s Hammer LED units similar to the ones seen in the recently launched XC40. Instead of a grille, there is a grid of sensors on the fascia. The 1 measures 4.5metres in length. The large sporty alloy wheels hide the Akebono six-piston brake callipers with 400mm discs.
The Polestar 1 is based on the same Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) as the Volvo S90. However, Polestar says that 50 per cent of its underpinnings are unique to the 1. For instance, the Polestar 1 is the first car to be fitted with the all-new Ohlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) technology. The bodyshell is carbon-fibre, thereby making it lighter and 45 per cent stiffer. Additionally, the 1 uses a double electric rear axle with torque vectoring.
The 1 can only be booked online and is offered with a two or three-year subscription plan. However, Polestar Spaces will surely come-up around the globe for a more personal touch of the brand. Polestar Spaces will be standalone facilities and not within existing Volvo retailer showrooms.
