Polestar 3 electric SUV on sale with up to 517hp and 379-mile range
The new Polestar 3 has made its official debut; the second series-production EV from Volvo’s EV-focused offshoot brand and its first SUV.
Intended to “define SUVs for the electric age”, it shares a platform with the forthcoming Volvo EX90 and brings a rival to the BMW iX and Audi e-tron. Prices start from £79,000.
Polestar says its new model will make the SUV “not only more relevant and responsible, but also highly desirable”. The 3 features design language inspired by the Polestar Precept and teaming SUV styling with aerodynamic features.
“Polestar 3 is a powerful electric SUV that appeals to the senses with a distinct, Scandinavian design and excellent driving dynamics,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.
“This car has been designed as a Polestar from the start and features new defining characteristics for us – like the dual blade headlights, SmartZone and front aero wing.”
The interior uses materials selected for their sustainability credentials along with premium aesthetics and so-called luxury tactility. These include bio-attributed MicroTech as a vegan leather alternative, animal welfare-certified leather and fully traceable wool upholsteries.
The 3 will launch in a long-range dual-motor variant, rear-biased for power and producing 489hp/840Nm or 517hp/910Nm with the Performance Pack. 0-62mph time is targeted to be 5 seconds, or 4.7 with the optional pack, while the 3 comes with standard dual-chamber adaptive air suspension that can be electronically adjusted once every two milliseconds.
Its 111kWh battery pack provides the Polestar 3 with an anticipated driving range of up to 379 miles and can be charged at up to 250kW DC or 11kW AC. The battery is also equipped for bidirectional charging, enabling future potential for vehicle-to-grid and plug-and-charge capabilities.
Specification is based on the same approach as the Polestar 2 electric saloon, offering extensive equipment with few options to streamline both customer configuration and production logistics. All models come with air suspension, full-length panoramic glass roof, full-LED lighting inside and out, retractable door handles with proximity sensing, and 21-inch alloy wheels.
The Plus Pack and Pilot Pack are fitted as standard for the first model year and include premium, luxury and convenience features such as a 25-speaker audio system from Bowers & Wilkins with 3D surround sound and Dolby Atmos capability, soft-closing doors, a head-up display and Pilot Assist.
The Polestar 3 will also offer a raft of latest driver assistance features, supported by an Nvidia Drive core computer, running software from Volvo Cars. This will serve as an ‘AI brain’, processing data from the car’s multiple sensors and cameras. New developments include interior radar sensors that can detect sub-millimetre movements in the interior of the car, to help protect against accidentally leaving children or pets inside. The system is also linked to the climate control system to avoid heat stroke or hypothermia.
The Polestar 3 also incorporates two closed-loop driver monitoring cameras that bring leading eye tracking technology from Smart Eye to a Polestar for the first time, able to warn and even stop the vehicle when detecting a distracted, drowsy or disconnected driver.
An optional Pilot Pack will debut in Q2 2023, adding in an extra control unit from Nvidia, along with further cameras, ultrasonic sensors and cleaning for the front- and rear-view cameras. This will enable enhanced 3D scanning of the car’s surroundings and ready the 3 for autonomous driving.
Infotainment tech is based on an Android Automotive OS in-car operating system, co-developed with Google and accessed by a 14.5-inch centre display, with over-the-air (OTA) updates included.
The new 3 will also be the first Polestar to be produced on two continents. Production for initial launch markets in North America, Europe and China will start mid-2023 at Volvo’s facility in Chengdu, China and first deliveries begin in Q4 next year. Volvo’s South Carolina facility in the United States will start production from mid-2024.
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath outlined last year that the brand will launch a new car every year for the next three years, starting with Polestar 3, and plans to increase its presence to at least 30 global markets by the end of 2023.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for nearly 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.
