polestar one electric car is volvo's answer to high performance EV

polestar, volvo’s performance brand, presents its future as a standalone electric performance car brand. the swedish-automaker has confirmed plans for its first three models, a new purpose-built production facility in china and the company’s first car, the 600 hp electric polestar ‘one’ which is set to arrive in mid-2019.

all images © polestar / volvo

the polestar ‘one’ will form a halo for the future electric brand. the performance vehicle  is a two-door, 2+2 seat grand tourer coupé with an ‘electric performance hybrid’ drivetrain. an electric car supported by an internal combustion engine, it has a range of 150 km (94 m) on pure electric power alone – the longest full electric range of any hybrid car on the market. its output of 600 hp and 1000 Nm of torque places the car firmly in the performance car segment.

the car is based upon volvo’s scalable platform architecture (SPA) but approximately 50% is new and bespoke, created by polestar’s engineers. to reinforce its dynamic driving characteristics, the ‘one’ benefits from a host of technologies, all aimed at making it a true driver’s car. it the world’s first car to be fitted with the class-leading öhlins continuously controlled electronic suspension (CESO) advanced chassis technology. a carbon fiber body reduces bodyweight and improves torsional stiffness by 45%, as well as lowering the cars’ centre of gravity. additionally, the ‘one’ uses a double electric rear axle which enables torque vectoring. this supports the driver with precise acceleration on each wheel to keep the maximum road grip and maintain speed while cornering.

the polestar ‘one’ will be built in the state-of-the-art, purpose-built polestar production centre in chengdu, china. currently under construction, it is due for completion in mid-2018.