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The Polestar 3 starts at $83,900 plus $1,400 for delivery.
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It packs some of Volvo’s most advanced safety technologies into a beautifully designed body with up to 517 hp.
electric car manufacturer Polestar PSNY,
today introduced its third product – a sleek, sporty SUV with up to 517 horsepower and a targeted range of 300 miles between charges. The Polestar 3 starts at $83,900 plus $1,400 for delivery.
It will be Polestar’s first US-built vehicle, although its entry-level price will prevent it from qualifying for the $7,500 state EV tax credit.
What is Polestar?
Polestar is an all-electric automaker that started as a tuner shop building high-performance Volvos VLVLY.
The company went into business for itself to build electric cars.
So far it has offered two cars. The Polestar 1 is a luxury hybrid performance coupe that has sold out and has ended production. The Polestar 2 is a high-riding all-electric fastback sedan with a range of up to 270 miles and a starting price of $48,400 (plus a $1,400 destination fee).
The company has plans for several more including a Polestar 5 luxury sedan and a Polestar 6 roadster.
The 3 is the next step in this plan.
Also read: The opulent 2023 Genesis G90 competes against its German rivals BMW and Mercedes
Beautiful, functional look
At first glance, the Polestar 3 is beautiful. It looks long and lean, with huge 21-inch alloy wheels giving it a slippery look than its size might suggest.
The North Star 3
North Star
However, the style hides aerodynamic optimizations throughout. The designers added “a front aero wing integrated into the hood, a second aero wing integrated into the rear spoiler, and rear aero blades,” says Polestar. Pinched rear shoulders carve a distinctive line, but we wonder if they limit rearward visibility. We’ll need time in the seat to know.
See also: Hertz will buy up to 65,000 electric vehicles from Swedish company Polestar over a five-year period to accelerate electrification
Sustainable materials, advanced technology through and through
The North Star 3
North Star
The cabin is beautiful Scandinavian minimalism with an emphasis on sustainable design. Materials, according to Polestar, “include bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery, animal welfare-certified leather and fully traceable wool upholstery.” The huge central infotainment screen (14.5 inches in portrait) handles all Tesla-style entertainment and climate functions. A sleek digital instrument display sits in front of the driver and doesn’t compete for size and complexity like many 2023 cars.
See: Vegan is a trend in the car industry, and not just for leather
Two power levels, standard air suspension
At launch, Polestar will offer 3-inch all-wheel drive with an electric motor on each axle. This combination is good for 489 hp. They draw power from a 111-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Polestar says it should earn an EPA rating of around 300 miles of range. Polestar says the setup will go from 0 to 60mph in 4.9 seconds.
An available Performance Pack boosts power to 517 hp and cuts the 0-60 time to 4.6 seconds. Polestar estimates it shaves around 30 miles off the range for the extra power. SUVs equipped with the Performance Pack also get an air suspension system tuned for sportier handling and 22-inch wheels.
Incidentally, this air suspension is part of the standard equipment. A two-chamber system, according to Polestar, “allows the SUV to switch between comfortable and dynamic suspension characteristics.” The dampers adjust once every 2 milliseconds to keep the ride stable on changing surfaces.
Polestar similarly introduced the twin-engine 2 sedan and later added a lower-priced single-engine version to the lineup. We wouldn’t be surprised to see a similar move in the SUV.
See: Polestar says it’s on track to meet full-year delivery target of 50,000 vehicles after a strong third quarter
The latest safety technology from Volvo
Thanks to the company’s Volvo roots, the Polestar 3 offers one of the most comprehensive suites of driver assistance features we’ve seen. It includes some features that Volvo will debut on its own upcoming flagship EX90.
Five radar modules, five external cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors support a full range of electronic driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning. Two internal cameras “monitor the driver’s eyes and can trigger alerts, sounds and even an emergency stop function if a distracted, drowsy or disconnected driver is detected.”
Polestar explains: “This includes the latest innovation – interior radar sensors that can detect sub-millimetre movement inside the vehicle interior to prevent children or pets from being accidentally left in the vehicle. The system is also linked to the air conditioning system to prevent heat stroke or hypothermia.”
The Polestar 3 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2023.
This story originally continued KBB.com.
