At Auto Shanghai this week, Polestar introduced an electric “performance SUV coupé.” The second SUV in the brand’s lineup is called Polestar 4 but is confusingly positioned between the Polestar 2 sedan and Polestar 3 SUV in terms of size and price.

“With Polestar 4, we have taken a fundamentally new approach to SUV coupé design,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “Rather than simply modifying an existing SUV, giving it a faster roofline and as a result, compromising elements like rear headroom and comfort, we have designed Polestar 4 from the ground up as a new breed of SUV coupé that celebrates rear occupant comfort and experience.”

The new vehicle has a few design elements first shown on the Polestar Precept concept car namely the elimination of the rear window for “a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience.” The separation of the dual-blade Polestar front lights is another, along with a Polestar emblem with lighting from below.

“With Polestar Precept, we previewed a stunning new occupant experience by removing the rear window and pushing the rear header, which plays an integral safety role, further back,” said Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar. “This means that now, rear occupants can have a unique experience in our SUV coupé.”

The elimination of the rear window means the glass roof stretches further beyond the rear occupants’ heads. The standard full-length glass roof can be equipped with electrochromic opaque to transparent functionality.

With no rear window, the rear-view mirror becomes more important. It 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.

Polestar 4 is built on the premium Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) developed by Geely Holding. Aerodynamic efficiency is enhanced by a low nose, retractable door handles, flush glazing with frameless windows, rear aero blades, and airflow optimization around the rear light bar—with a drag coefficient of 0.269 Cd.

The D-segment vehicle has a long 2999-mm (118.1-in) wheelbase, with a 4839-mm (190.5-in) length, 2139-mm (84.2-in) width, and 1544-mm (60.8-in) height. The resulting generous interior proportions are especially evident in the rear, where occupants get reclining seats. Curb mass ranges from 4920 to 5181 lb (2232 to 2351 kg).

Adjustable ambient lighting is said to be inspired by the solar system. A secondary media and climate control screen is mounted between the front seats to enable rear occupant control.

 

More sustainable materials

The brand promises that a full LCA (lifecycle assessment), showing a true carbon footprint, will be published with a Polestar 4 Product Sustainability Declaration in 2024. It will show 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.

The interior and its materials are designed around a “soft tech” theme inspired by fashion and sportswear industries. A mono-material approach first presented in the 2022 Polestar electric roadster, 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 material separation before recycling.

New interior materials include a tailored knit textile consisting of 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate), “bio-attributed” MicroTech vinyl, and “animal welfare-secured” Nappa leather upholsteries.

The tailored knit is said to be a new technique for the automotive industry. First shown in the Precept concept car, the material and design were created by Polestar and The Swedish School of Textiles or Borås Textilhögskolan, with further development with suppliers. It is made to fit, producing no offcuts and reducing overall waste.

Inlay carpets are made of recycled PET and floor carpets are from Aquafil Group’s Econyl regenerated nylon, which includes reclaimed fishing nets. Some door trim panels are made from NFPP (natural fiber polypropylene), which results in up to 50% less virgin plastic and up to 40% weight savings. MicroTech seat material made from Ineos Inovyn’s Biovyn, introduced in Polestar 3, is a bio-attributed vinyl (or “vegan” alternative to leather) that replaces crude oil with pine oil in its construction and features a recycled textile backing.

 

Highest performance Polestar

While performance, power, range, and energy consumption data are preliminary, the Polestar 4 will be the fastest production car the brand has developed so far. Permanent magnet, synchronous dual- and single-motor versions will be available, with single-motor versions featuring rear-wheel drive. Fitted to both long-range versions is a CATL NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery that uses 110 prismatic cells and has a capacity of 102 kW·h (nominal) and 94 kW·h (useable).

The long-range dual-motor features 400 kW, 686 N·m (506 lb·ft), and a preliminary range target of up to 560 km (348 mi) on the WLTP and 270 mi (435 km) on the EPA cycles. A disconnect clutch disengages the front electric motor when not needed to maximize range and efficiency. The long-range single-motor version features a 200 kW and 343 N·m (253 lb·ft) motor at the rear and preliminary range target of up to 600 km (373 mi) WLTP and 300 mi (483 km) EPA. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) is 3.8 and 7.4 s, and top speed 200 and 180 km/h (124 and 112 mph), for dual and single motor, respectively.

A new drive optimization function allows the driver to select between range or performance driving modes in the long-range dual-motor version. Performance mode sharpens powertrain responsiveness and always engages both motors for full power delivery. Range mode prioritizes efficiency, adapting the powertrain to a calmer style and forcing the use of only the rear motor.

A semi-active suspension feature in the dual-motor version provides an additional layer of adjustment between comfort and performance dynamics. Wheels range from 20 to 22 in, with tires supplied by Pirelli and Michelin.

All versions have up to 200-kW DC and 22-kW AC vehicle charging and bi-directional charging with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, at launch providing for external devices to draw power from the vehicle. A heat pump is standard to precondition the cabin and battery.

 

Tech and safety

The Polestar 4’s infotainment system is powered by Android Automotive OS with Google built-in and apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play. Apple CarPlay is also included.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon cockpit platform now uses a 15.4-in landscape-oriented screen.

A 10.2-in driver display includes speed, battery, and range information. When engaged, assistance system virtual environments can show other road users, current driving assistance functions, and navigation information.

A HUD (head-up display) with 14.7-in projection in front of the driver relays key vehicle, telephone, and navigation information to the windscreen for improved driver focus on the road ahead. A “snow mode” function switches the HUD’s text color from white to yellow to improve visibility in snowy environments.

A Harman Kardon audio system is available, with 12 speakers and a 1400-W channel amplifier. An additional two headrest speakers in each front seat with the optional Nappa Pack raises the total to 16.

In addition to as many as nine airbags, intelligent safety technology includes the SuperVision advanced driver-assistance system from Mobileye. A total of twelve cameras, one radar, and twelve ultrasonic sensors are fitted as standard. An optional Pilot Pack includes enhanced Pilot Assist with lane-change assistance initiated by the driver tapping the indicator stalk in the desired direction.

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 with all other Polestar cars, regular over-the-air (OTA) updates allow for new features and improvements to be sent remotely to all vehicles.

 

Launching first in China

Polestar 4 launches first in China, with production planned to begin in Hangzhou Bay, China, in November 2023. The Geely-owned production facility operates on 100% renewable electricity.

A full-scale launch for other markets, including in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, is planned for early 2024, with sales and production ramping up for these markets through the year. All details for these markets will be presented in 2024.

Launch pricing will start around €60,000, $60,000, or £55,000.