Polestar unveils 600 hp hybrid

Volvo’s performance offshoot has revealed its future as a standalone electric performance brand,  showing off a 600 hp coupe alongside a saloon and an SUV.

The Polestar 1 is set to roll off the production line in mid-2019, and is set to form a halo for the future brand. It is a two-door 2+2 grand tourer, with a performance-focused hybrid powertrain serving up 600 hp and 1000 Nm of torque. To achieve these figures, the car makes use of a 338 hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which works in tandem with a double-electric motor which sends 215 bhp to the rear axle. It is also supported by an integrated starter motor generator adding another 39 bhp.

To further reinforce its dynamic driving abilities, the Polestar 1 benefits from a host of new technologies, all focused on improving the driver’s immersion. It will be fitted with all-new class-leading Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension advanced chassis technology. A carbon fibre body, meanwhile, reduces bodyweight and improves torsional stiffness by 45%, as well as lowering the cars’ centre of gravity. Additionally, Polestar 1 uses a double electric rear axle which enables torque vectoring. This supports the driver with precise acceleration on each wheel to keep the maximum road grip and maintain speed while cornering.

Polestar says that it plans to build just 500 Polestar 1s a year, which will be available through a new subscription service. The zero-deposit, all-inclusive subscription will also add features such as pick-up and delivery servicing and the ability to rent alternative vehicles within the Volvo and Polestar range, all incorporated into one monthly payment.