Polestar 4 heralds a new breed of SUV coupé
Design cues first seen on Polestar’s concept cars are brought to production inthe fastest Polestar production car to date. Polestar 4 will be positioned between Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 in terms of size and price, with Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath saying the Polestar 4 has been designed from the ground up as a new breed of SUV coupé that celebrates rear occupant comfort and experience.
As a design driven brand, the design of Polestar 4 sees the continuation of key elements
first shown by the Polestar Precept concept car, coming to life.
This includes eliminating the rear window which enables a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience, and the separation of the dual blade front lights with unique Polestar light signature – complemented
by the Polestar emblem with millimetre precision lighting from below.
Aerodynamic efficiency is enhanced by the low nose, retractable door handles, flush glazing with frameless windows, rear aero blades and air flow optimisation around the rear light bar.
Built on the premium Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), the Polestar 4 features a large body and long, 2,999mm wheelbase. Overall length is 4,839mm, width is 2,139mm and height is 1,544mm. The
resulting generous interior proportions are especially evident in the rear, where occupants are cocooned in an intimate environment, with reclining seats. Adjustable ambient lighting that adds an extra dimension to the interior, inspired by the solar system, allows the driver to customise the driving environment.
The standard full length glass roof is available with optional electrochromic functionality, allowing for opaque or transparent execution depending on the mood. Thanks to the elimination of the rear window, the glass roof stretches beyond the rear occupants’ heads, creating a truly unique interior ambience.
A secondary media and climate control screen is mounted between the front seats to enable rear occupant control. The rearview mirror is replaced by a high definition screen that shows a real-time feed from a roof-mounted rear camera – enabling a far wider field of view than what can be experienced in most modern cars.
The digital feed can be deactivated to allow drivers to instead see rear occupants if needed.
The interior and its materials have been designed around the theme of ‘soft tech’, drawing inspiration from the fashion and sportswear industries. Colour and material choices for the Polestar 4 explore new executions for the brand, including new exterior colours Storm and Electron, and a unique new interior colour, Mist.
In the Polestar 4, more circular and low carbon materials replace traditional solutions. This includes measures for greater supply chain transparency, like blockchain traceability for risk materials in the batteries. A full lifecycle assessment (LCA), showing the true carbon footprint of the car, will be published alongside the Polestar 4 Product Sustainability Declaration in 2024.
A mono-material approach, first presented in the Polestar electric roadster concept in 2022, is applied to interior materials, where all layers of certain components are produced from the same base material. This allows them to be recycled more effectively and efficiently by eliminating the need for incompatible materials to be separated before recycling.
New interior materials include a tailored knit textile which consists of 100% recycled PET, along with bio-attributed MicroTech vinyl and animal welfare-secured Nappa leather upholsteries.
Polestar says the tailored knit upholstery is a new technique for the automotive industry. First shown in the
Precept concept car, the textile is made from 100% recycled polyester. The material and the design have been created by Polestar designers together with the Swedish School of Textiles (Borås Textilhögskolan) and further developed with suppliers. It is made to fit, producing no offcuts and reduced overall waste.
The Polestar 4 is the fastest production car the brand has developed to date. A 0-100km/h sprint can be completed in just 3.8 seconds and maximum power output is 400kW (544hp).
Motors are of a permanent magnet, synchronous design. Driving dynamics are true to the Polestar brand – sharp steering and handling responses result in a thrilling and nimble driving experience for all occupants.
Both dual and single motor versions will be available, with single motor versions featuring rear-wheel
drive.
Despite the high output and performance, control and confidence are always key factors to produce a responsible, everyday enjoyable EV experience. Semiactive suspension features in the dual motor version for an additional layer of adjustment between comfort and performance dynamics. Wheels range from 20 to 22-inches, depending on the version, with tyres supplied by Pirelli and Michelin.
A 102kWh battery is fitted to both long range versions. The Long range Dual motor features 400kW (544 hp), 686Nm and a preliminary range target of up to 560km (provisional WLTP figure). A disconnect clutch allows the car to disengage the front electric motor when not needed, to maximise range and efficiency.
Up to 200kW DC and 22kW AC charging is included for all versions, and the charge lid is motorised. Bi-directional charging is included, with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability at launch providing for external devices to draw power from Polestar 4.
A new drive optimisation function allows the driver to select between range or performance driving modes in the Long range Dual motor version.
Performance mode sharpens up responsiveness from the powertrain and engages both motors at all times for full power delivery and best performance. Range mode prioritises efficiency, adapting the powertrain to a calmer style and forces use of only the rear motor.
The Long range Single motor version features a 200kW (272 hp) and 343Nm motor at the rear and preliminary range target of up to 600 km (provisional WLTP figure).
Polestar continues to push technology towards a more entertaining, connected and autonomous future in all its cars. In the Polestar 4, the infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS and the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform now utilises a 15.4inch landscape-oriented screen.
With Google built-in, including Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, Polestar continues to offer a leading connected experience. The close collaboration with Google allows Polestar to keep pushing the boundaries of the system.
A Harman Kardon audio system is available as an option with 12 speakers and 1,400Watt channel hybrid
amplifier. An additional two headrest speakers are added to each front seat with the optional Nappa Pack– raising the total to 16. Naturally, Apple CarPlay is also included.
As with all other Polestar cars, regular over-the-air (OTA) updates allow for new features and improvements to be sent remotely to all vehicles, removing the need to visit a workshop to gain the latest software.
Safety is part of Polestar’s DNA thanks to its strong connection to Volvo Cars and these safety genes are built into the Polestar 4, which features leading safety technology inside and out – tested to the same exacting standards as all other Polestar cars.
New partnerships bring intelligent safety technology to the fore, including the SuperVision Advanced Driver Assistance System from Mobileye. A total of twelve cameras, one radar and twelve ultrasonic sensors are fitted as standard. This includes a driver monitoring camera, which only relays data and does not record video, to monitor the driver’s eyes and head movements to help avoid incidents related to fatigue or incapacitation.
Together with hands-on detection in the steering wheel, the driver monitoring system helps to keep the driver actively engaged in driving, as required.
A 10.2-inch driver display is mounted ahead of the steering column and includes speed, battery and range information. When engaged by various assistance systems, a virtual environment can show other road users, current driving assistance functions and navigation information. To reduce distraction, a head-up display (HUD) with 14.7-inch projection area in front of the driver relays key vehicle, telephony and navigation information to the windscreen, further improving driver attentiveness.
A clever ‘snow mode’ function for the HUD switches the text colour from white to yellow, improving visibility in snowy environments. The optional Pilot Pack includes enhanced Pilot Assist with lane change assistance, initiated by the driver tapping the indicator stalk in the desired direction.
The Polestar 4 launches first in China, with production planned to begin in Hangzhou Bay, late in 2023. A full-scale launch for other markets, including in Asia Pacific, is planned for early 2024.
All specification details for the local Polestar 4 line-up will be presented in 2024.