2024 Polestar 4: A 544-HP Electric SUV With No Rear Window
Polestar started with a clean sheet of paper to design a coupe SUV unlike any other.
Polestar has spent the last few years steadily establishing itself in the market for premium EVs. The company now aims to add a new mid-sized SUV to its lineup, sitting in between the sleek Polestar 2 and the spacious Polestar 3.
For the Polestar 4, the aim was to create an "SUV coupe," but not in the usual fashion. If you haven't followed the change in parlance in recent years, that's a crossover with a swoopy roofline and four doors. Such designs are often based on existing SUVs, sacrificing rear headroom in the process. Polestar avoided this with a clean sheet design that focuses on comfort for rear passengers. "We have designed Polestar 4 from the ground up as a new breed of SUV coupe that celebrates rear occupant comfort and experience,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.
It's also set to be Polestar's fastest car yet. Maximum power output is 544 hp from the all-wheel-drive dual motor drivetrain, delivering a zero-to-60 mph sprint in under 3.8 seconds. Single-motor models will also be available in a rear-wheel-drive configuration, with 272 hp on tap.
Long-range models with either drivetrain will feature a 102 kWh battery. The single-motor version will have the longest range, with Polestar targeting over 300 miles on the EPA rating system. 22 kW AC charging will be available as standard along with 200 kW DC fast charging on all models. Vehicle-to-load capability will be available from launch, letting owners use their Polestar 4 as a portable power source.
As seen on the Polestar Precept concept car, the Polestar 4 eliminates the traditional rear window. Instead, the full-length glass roof simply extends all the way to the rear, behind the second row. It's fitted with electrochromic functionality, allowing it to block the sun when desired without the need for a traditional fabric shade.
As is the way with EVs, aerodynamic efficiency was a primary driver of the design. In this case, drag is minimized with features like retractable door handles and flush windows. At the rear, airflow
is optimized around the rear light bar, with sections working as "aero blades" to create a "free-floating vortex" which further reduces drag on the vehicle.
Inside, Polestar is continuing to lean on its sleek, clean aesthetic fundamentals. Interior renders at this stage feature the brand's signature gold seatbelts, contrasting nicely with the white interior finishes. There is also a focus on sustainability. Certain components will be manufactured with a "mono-material" method where all layers are made of the same base material, with an eye to improving recyclability.
The Polestar 4 will begin production in the company's Hangzhou Bay, China plant in November 2023. It's slated for a US launch in 2024, with "indicative launch pricing" starting at around $60,000.
The mid-sized SUV market has always been a hot one. Polestar's looking to enter the luxury part of it with a sleek, modern EV with plenty of nice design features. Whether its cool Scandinavian charms will endear it to a broad audience remains to be seen. If Polestar's earlier efforts are anything to go by, though, it should do well.
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