The upcoming release of the Polestar 4, a new breed of SUV coupé, shows that this design-driven, pure-electric brand continues to push the envelope. The most powerful dual-motor Polestar 4 runs a 102-kWh battery for a claimed range of 350 miles, making it the most high-performance Polestar to date. However, what is really interesting is that the traditional rear window has been removed to optimize the car’s aerodynamic properties and create a new level of interior comfort. A high-definition screen now replaces the age-old rear-view mirror, displaying a real-time feed from a roof-mounted rear camera that delivers a much broader field of vision. The 4 has an impressively slippery 0.26 drag coefficient, freeing up all the constituents because of the use of technology. Additionally, the glass roof stretches back and beyond the rear occupants’ heads, and finishes part of the way into the area in which a traditional rear window would sit.
Although the deletion of the back window risks a certain claustrophobia, several features have been added to help avoid this. Firstly, a full-length glass roof is standard, with the option of an electrochromic function to switch between opaque or transparent. Secondly, the exterior belt-line has been angled up on the rear doors, doubling down on the cocoon effect. The Polestar 4’s interior is just as impressive, featuring tailored 3D-knit textile, bio-attributed MicroTech vinyl, and ethically sourced Nappa leather.
The rear headrests are bigger than usual because there’s no need to worry about them obscuring the view behind. Front or back, this is an interior that potentially manages to be stimulating yet calm at the same time. Polestar’s relationship with Google continues, and again encompasses built-in Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play, while the infotainment system is powered by the Android Automotive OS. The Polestar 4 is a car that offers a new level of comfort and performance, and it’s easy to see why there’s a lot of buzz around this vehicle
The idea of an SUV coupé was a very clever marketing invention,” says Missoni. “You could say, ‘Why would you need that?’ But then you look at the demand, and it’s massive. We just don’t want to do what everybody else is doing. We want to challenge that segment, improve it, and create something new.”
Ingenlath, meanwhile, is aware that there will be some buyers who are simply interested in the fact that the 4 is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating Polestar yet. “I don’t see why people can’t enjoy the driving experience as well as being in a beautifully designed and beautifully crafted car,” he says. “It’s not one or the other.”
There are two powertrain options, and the launch version will have a 510 hp electric motor driving the rear wheels, plus a smaller motor up front. This should give the 4 a 0–62 mph time of around 4 seconds. Later on, a single-motor 405 hp version will arrive, bringing the price down. The car will also feature an advanced recuperation system, in which the car automatically slows down when it detects that you’re coming up to a bend, thus increasing range. (Missoni admits he has been amazed by how effective this is.)
This is a hugely important car for Polestar. The 1, which was a sort of swansong for Volvo’s engine department, was always going to be a limited-run model. The 2 is a very worthy vehicle, but it’s part of a crowded market, albeit with some genuinely innovative features. The 4, however, is a statement car, a flagship for a brand that is trying to do things differently.
The Polestar 4 is the car that says, “We’re not afraid of a challenge, and we’re not afraid to make a bold statement.” The company may be just four models old, but its confidence in what it’s doing is palpable.
“We want to create a company that can demonstrate what the future can look like,” says Ingenlath. “And that future needs to be a really desirable one, with cars that can stand up to the very best.”
For Missoni, Polestar is part of a burgeoning movement in car design that embraces sustainability and circularity. “There’s a lot of interest in reducing the environmental impact of cars, but at the same time, making them attractive,” he says. “Not just saying, ‘You have to drive a box now, because that’s environmentally responsible.’ I think Polestar is a symbol of that movement.”
