A battery-electric car with over 600 hp? Meet the Polestar 1, a beautiful sporting car from Volvo ‘s ‘stable’ . The car is not only fast and sporty, the interior and exterior can also be there. That almost all details have been considered is an understatement and the great thing is that the car nevertheless looks very minimalist and quiet. Little distraction while driving and lots of power and comfort.
To 100 km / h in 4.2 seconds
The Polestar 1 has two electric motors for driving the rear wheels and a (four-cylinder) petrol engine for driving the front wheels. The ‘Crank-Integrated Starter Generator’ provides even more horsepower and therefore the car has a total power of 609 hp and a torque of 1000 Nm. Whoever puts the car in Power mode achieves the maximum power and drives from 0 to 100 in 4.2 seconds. Top speed is 250 kilometers per hour. If you drive entirely electrically, the Polestar 1 will not go further than 160 km / h, still hard enough.
3 rechargeable batteries
The 3 rechargeable batteries together promise a range of around 125 to 150 km when you drive fully electrically. That is quite a range. “This is a hybrid car that you can drive electrically every day,” said Polestar. The 125 km per day will indeed be enough for the average consumer. When you drive a hybrid, the range is of course a lot bigger. I even managed to achieve an average consumption of 1.3 l / 100 km. Very nice of course, but the car offers much more.
Volvo Concept Coupé as inspiration
The Polestar 1 is based on the Volvo Concept Coupé and you can see that clearly reflected in the design of the car. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) was used to produce the bodywork. This made it easier for the designers of the car to create sharp lines and that gives the car its powerful appearance including beautiful low roof line. A steel roof construction had certainly made the roof line higher and Polestar thought that this would detract from the beautiful design. Even the construction of the panoramic glass roof ensures a lower roof line.
Nice interior
Carbon fiber can also be found in the interior, among other things in the side panels of the doors and upholstery of the dashboard. The interior of the Polestar 1 is beautiful without bells and whistles. You can clearly see that this is a car from the ‘Volvo family’, supplemented with specific Polestar characteristics. Of course the beautiful logo in the glass roof and a special crystal glass poker.
The interior lighting looks quiet and the great thing is that all options are already standard. From the handmade leather upholstery to the integrated audio system from Bowers & Wilkins.
Although the car also has a rear seat, it is difficult to actually sit here. In that respect, the Polestar 1 is really a car for a maximum of 2 people.
Polestar driving test 1
Although the Polestar 1 is built with lightweight materials, the car still weighs 2350 kilos. That’s decent, but you don’t notice much of it while driving. The gas pedal reacts quickly and quietly, no growls, but a lot of power. The active rear spoiler automatically rises from a speed of 100 km / h. Because each rear wheel has its own electric motor, it can be used to vary the acceleration and stability when cornering. The Polestar 1 drives stably and accurately through the curves and brakes is powerful. Climbing also did fine in the Italian hills, but given the specifications, that is almost impossible of course.
Exclusive and online ordering
That the Polestar 1 is not affordable for an average consumer is a fact, but this brand does not focus on that either. The car is produced in an exclusive edition of only 1500 pieces. Without an extensive option list, so for the price of € 159,500 you are ready, unless you like the matt finish (+ € 5000). That is solid enough of course, but then you drive a very exclusive car. Just to the showroom to test out is not there, because the Polestar 1 you configure and order online.
Polestar competes with Tesla and the Polestar 1 is succeeded by the fully electric Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 (SUV). Those who order the Polestar 1 now will drive it between February and April 2020.