Set to launch! 2023 Polestar 3 electric SUV details revealed ahead of the Tesla Model X rival's debut

Polestar has set a launch date for its second fully-electric model, the Polestar 3, confirming a debut on October 12.

The electric SUV from Gothenburg will roughly share the dimensions of its sibling and basis, the Volvo XC90, though with distinct design and engineering from Polestar to differentiate it from its relative while, as Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said, looking to the future of EV design.

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“We had to ask ourselves: ‘what should a modern SUV look like?’” he said.

“Polestar 3 defines the SUV for the electric age and in designing it, we addressed some of the fundamentals of the archetype: proportions, stance and aerodynamics.”

Having been slowly revealed through images during 2022, the Polestar 3 now has a quickly approaching launch date, plus more details drip-fed by the Swedish brand.

A key take-away from Polestar’s latest statement on the 3 is that with an optional Performance Pack, similar to that available on the Polestar 2, the Polestar 3 will have a maximum output of 380kW and 910Nm, plus chassis tuning from go-fast department Polestar Engineered. The Performance Pack also adds gold badging.

All versions of the Polestar 3 will have a dual-motor powertrain with a rear-bias, a dual-clutch based torque vectoring system, plus adaptive air suspension and active dampers.

Previously, Polestar has revealed it will launch the 3 with a targeted minimum range of 600km, with driving assistance that, for the highway at least, goes some way towards autonomy.

An 800-volt lithium-ion battery with a 103kWh capacity is on the cards, though Polestar 3’s specifics aren’t yet.

While no pricing for Australia is confirmed, multiple UK outlets have reported pricing at £78,900 (AUD$131,450) for the standard Polestar 3, or £85,500 (AUD$142,459) for the Performance Pack.

Of course, local pricing will involve different manufacturer costs and local fees and taxes, but if previous indications from Polestar are still in motion, the Polestar 3 will sit in the same price region as the then-available Tesla Model X. Polestar had been aiming to undercut its American rival on price, though we’re not expecting to see the Polestar 3 land for less than the roughly $130,000 Tesla had been asking for the base Model X Long Range.

Polestar 3 is the second in a stream of new cars coming, with the Polestar 4 and 5 set to be revealed in the next two years consecutively.

Polestar 4 will be a coupe-like SUV, aiming to assist the brand in the competitive SUV segment and pushing to achieve the brand’s goal of having sold 290,000 cars by the end of 2025.

Polestar 5 will be a likely smaller-numbers seller, as a 4-door GT likely to take a similar approach to EV motoring as one of the segment pioneers, the Tesla Model S.