Polestar 1 revealed as 447kW performance hybrid

Volvo’s electric performance sub-brand, Polestar, revealed its first standalone model in Shanghai overnight, with the 1 grand tourer packing a 447kW/1000Nm plug-in hybrid powertrain in a two-door, four-seat coupe body style.

At the reveal event, Polestar also confirmed plans for its next two models, the 2 mid-size sedan and the 3 large SUV, with these battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) to tackle the Tesla Model 3 and Model X respectively.

Set to roll out of a new purpose-built Polestar factory in Chengdu, China from mid-2019, just 500 examples of the 1 will be built per year, but a right-hand drive production run remains unclear.

The coupe is based on the 'Scalable Platform Architecture' (SPA) platform that underpins Volvo's XC60, XC90, S90 and V90 models.

However, about 50 per cent of the SPA platform underpinning the hybrid is bespoke, having been created by Polestar's engineers with a focus on dynamic driving characteristics. It measures in at 4500mm long, some 650mm shorter than the S90.

As such, the 1 features several world-first technologies, headlined by a Ohlins 'Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension' (CESi), which includes electronic valves fitted with each shock absorber that react to driving and road conditions within two milliseconds.

The Polestar halo has a carbon-fibre body that reduces weight by 230kg and increases torsional stiffness by 45 per cent while lowering its centre of gravity. Braking is handled by 400mm discs with six-piston callipers manufactured by Akebono.

The 1 also employs a 163kW double electric motor system with torque vectoring on the rear axle, which, according to the Swedish carmaker, offers pinpoint acceleration via each wheel to maximise grip and maintain speed when cornering.

Described by Polestar as an 'Electric Performance Hybrid', the GT's powertrain is a heavily reworked version of the 2.0-litre twincharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor pairing found in T8 variants of the XC60 and XC90. In this application, the internal combustion unit powers the front axle.

A pure-electric driving range of 150km gives the 1 ultimate bragging rights in the hybrid segment, with Polestar claiming it offers “the longest full-electric range of any hybrid car on the market”.

Specifically, the performance Polestar will likely go toe-to-toe with the BMW M4 Competition, Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe and Audi RS5 Coupe in the European sportscar class.

Styling wise, the 1 is unmistakeably Volvo inside and out, with the overall look more or less a carbon copy of the Volvo Concept Coupe from the 2013 Frankfurt motor show.

According to Polestar chief executive officer Thomas Ingenlath, the 1 is another significant step towards the future of electric performance cars.

“Polestar 1 is the first car to carry the Polestar on the bonnet,” he said. “A beautiful GT with amazing technology packed into it - a great start for our new Polestar brand.

“All future cars from Polestar will feature a fully electric drivetrain, delivering on our brand vision of being the new standalone electric performance brand.”

Starting production after the 1 in late-2019, the 2 will be the first BEV from Volvo Car Group, with volumes to be higher than that of the coupe model. Meanwhile, timing for the 3 is unclear.

Volvo Australia is yet to confirm if the Polestar 1, 2 and 3 will be launched locally, but further details on the line-up will be released in due course.

Polestar models will forgo traditional ownership by being made available online only via a two- or three-year flat-rate subscription service with monthly payments, which will allow customers to sample several vehicles from the Volvo Car Group range.

Is the Polestar 1 the first of many lust-worthy electrified models from the Swedish brand? Tell us what you think in the comments below.