Volvo’s Polestar goes electric – three models announced

The Polestar marque has until now been known as Volvo’s performance brand. It is now to become the latest car brand to take on the likes of Tesla in the electric vehicle market, with its first three models announced. It will also have an innovative sales business model.

Polestar 1

First up, is the Polestar 1. It will have an Electric Performance Hybrid drivetrain, an electric car supported by an internal combustion engine. Engine output will be 600hp, and on electricity alone has a range of 150 kilometres on a full charge. It’s a two-door, 2+2 seat Grand Tourer Coupé, with a carbon fibre body. The Polestar 1 is available for pre-order now, and will be constructed in a new factory in Chengdu, China. The factory is due for completion in mid-2018.

“Polestar 1 is the first car to carry the Polestar on the bonnet. A beautiful GT with amazing technology packed into it – a great start for our new Polestar brand. All future cars from Polestar will feature a fully electric drivetrain, delivering on our brand vision of being the new standalone electric performance brand,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer of Polestar.

Buy? No, you subscribe

And you won’t so much own the Polestar 1, as you will be a subscriber. Polestar vehicles will be ordered 100% online, and will be available on 2 or 3 year subscription plans, with zero deposit. That subscription fee will include servicing, and “… ability to rent alternative vehicles within the Volvo and Polestar range, all incorporated into one monthly payment.”

Once subscribed to, Polestar will use Phone-As-Key technology, so the vehicle could be shared by multiple subscribers.

Polestar is set to open standalone ‘spaces’ to view its vehicles,which you can then order via an app or website.

Polestar 1 image gallery

Click any of the thumbnails below to open the gallery, and see full-size images.