Polestar’s First Car Unveiled: 2020 Polestar 1 [News]

Polestar, the former tuning company turned spin-off brand of the Swedish automaker Volvo, has just revealed its first model. The Polestar brand was, for the past several years, an in-house tuning company, much like Mercedes’ AMG brand or BMW M-Performance. However, Volvo recently revealed its plans to turn the company into a fully-electrified performance sub-brand, making cars of its own (but still based on Volvos). With the reveal of the Polestar 1, Polestar has also confirmed their plans for the first 3 models they will release.

2020 Polestar 1

At the moment, it is the Polestar 1 that we know the most about. Looks wise, this vehicle clearly takes its design language from the ever-handsome Volvo S90. However, Polestar have turned that gorgeous sedan into a 2 plus 2 coupe, Design is always subjective, but it would be hard to call this a bad looking vehicle. While there are no Volvo badges on this Polestar, it does share roughly 50% of its interior and exterior components with the S90. As such, the steering wheel, dashboard, and many other interior components are taken straight from the S90. Crucially, Polestar has kept the fantastic ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights as well. Furthermore, Polestar has made heavy – or should I say light – use of carbon fiber to save over 500 lbs of weight.

Since Polestar is Volvo’s performance sub-brand, this thing better be quick, and it should be. Polestar claims a bonkers 600 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. This comes thanks to a modified version of Volvo’s brand-ubiquitous twin-charged hybrid drivetrain. For those who don’t know, that is a 2.0L four-cylinder motor that has been turbocharged and supercharged, which powers the front wheels. This twin-charged motor makes 382 horsepower alone. Powering the back wheels is a 218 horsepower electric motor to give this Swedish sport-sled all wheel drive and full torque vectoring. Performance figures haven’t been revealed yet but this thing should be really fast.

Polestar have stated that they plan to produce just 500 Polestar 1 models per year, a fairly low volume. But when can you buy one? Well technically you can’t! Polestar is planning to offer their vehicles on a two or three year subscription basis. You will effectively be leasing the car, while simultaneously receiving a number of convenience services from Polestar. Included are things like drop-off and pick-up delivery. You can also rent other Volvo models for periods of your lease, should you need something more than a coupe. Rental gear, such as roof racks, will also be available. This is interesting news considering the future of the automobile industry.

Future Polestar Models

Polestar have also revealed their plans to make a fully electric Tesla Model 3 competitor called the Polestar 2. The Polestar 2 is set to start production in 2019.

Polestar also revealed plans to make a full-size SUV, called Polestar 3. This will also be a fully-electric model and should see pricing and production figures somewhere between the Polestar 1 and 2.

To find out more about the Polestar 1, and to hear more news about Polestar’s other upcoming models, be sure to stay tuned to TFLcar.com.

While you wait, why not see how this drivetrain performs in the all-new Volvo XC60 T8: