Polestar is one of the newcomers to the electric vehicle segment, and this automaker has innovated a lot in the short time it’s been an independent brand. Although many may not be familiar with Polestar, its parent company, Volvo, is a fairly popular automaker.
Both automakers are inextricably linked, and their story might surprise you. Polestar is expanding its presence in the EV segment, and its current and future offerings are fantastic.
How did the polar star originate?
Polestar was originally a Swedish racing team called Flash Engineering. Volvo and Flash Engineering collaborated to create a vehicle for the Swedish Touring Car Championship in 1996.
The newly formed union was very successful, as they ended up winning the STCC on their first try. Following this, Flash Engineering was sold, which underwent a name change to the more familiar Polestar Racing.
As you can see, the brand’s roots go back largely to the world of racing and it enjoys a rich history in motorsports. Polestar Racing eventually became a partner with Volvo to extract more speed from their vehicles.
Ultimately, Volvo bought Polestar’s performance road car division. The racing division still exists today and has been renamed Cyan Racing. Over time, Polestar became its own brand, and while its roots run deep in internal combustion engine sports, its future is electric.
The brand hopes to become a massive player in the EV segment, leading the charge for EV manufacturers using sustainable materials in their vehicles and concept cars.
And while the brand has a lot going for it, Polestar definitely has some work to do to establish itself against stalwarts like Tesla.
What is the polar star today?
Currently, Polestar is its own brand. The Swedish automaker is based in Gothenburg, Sweden, which is not surprising given that Volvo owns it. But what may surprise you is that Polestar makes its Polestar 2 EV in Luqiao, China.
However, it all makes more sense when you consider that Geely, one of China’s leading car manufacturers, bought the Volvo brand from Ford. China is also a colossal EV market, so it is crucial for EV manufacturers to have a local presence in the country.
At the moment, the company does not have an extensive portfolio of vehicles. Still, Volvo’s successful race team-turned-tuner hopes to channel their victories into their next venture: creating great-performing electric vehicles.
Polestar isn’t an immediately recognizable brand in the automotive world, but the Swedish automaker hopes to change that. In its short history, most of the brand’s offerings have been limited to modified Volvo vehicles or crazy concept cars. But, with the Polestar 2 and the upcoming Polestar 3 EV, the company hopes to change that.
What cars does Polestar make?
The Polestar 1 is the company’s first model. However, it is no longer in production. At the moment you can only get the Polestar 2, but we hope to see the Polestar 3 appear in showrooms soon.
polar star 1
The Polestar 1 is no longer for sale as a new vehicle, but this is the car that kicked off the marque’s solo act. It’s a rare sight, with only 1,500 of these bad boys currently on the road.
Much of the criticism surrounding this car is aimed at the fact that it looks like a Volvo, and to be fair, it really does look a lot like a regular Volvo. But what nobody can say is that it is a slow car.
The Polestar 1 has 609 horsepower at its disposal, definitely not your grandfather’s Volvo pickup. The Polestar 1’s biggest party trick is the hybrid powertrain. The car features a mix of electric motors and a supercharged + turbocharged engine, delivering a colossal 1000Nm of torque. It also has a decent pure electric range of 77 miles.
This number is truly staggering when compared to other hybrid vehicles. The only downside to this amazing Polestar model is its price, which is still well over $100,000 for a used example.
polar star 2
The Polestar 2 is the brand’s current bread and butter. This unique-looking electric vehicle is one of the best competitors to the Tesla Model 3 currently on sale. Its quirky styling may not be for everyone, but the vehicle definitely stands out much more than the bland offerings of the competition.
Its performance is also excellent, especially if you go for the Dual Motor version of the Polestar 2. But if you don’t need to go from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, the single-motor FWD Polestar 2 should be more than adequate. .
Both configurations offer over 250 miles of range, so road trips in the Polestar 2 shouldn’t be a problem either. The Polestar 2 is a great EV, but it’s just the beginning of the forward-thinking brand’s plan for the global market.
polar star 3
The Polestar 3 is the brand’s future entry for the best electric SUVs you can buy. It’s a luxury SUV, and the price tag screams luxury SUV. It starts at $83,900 and should be available towards the fourth quarter of 2023.
It’s definitely expensive, especially considering the range is only about 300 miles. For context, the Tesla Model Y gets you 330 miles of range for $65,990.
It might be annoying at this point to mention Tesla’s competitor in the unreleased Polestar 3, but it’s unavoidable. Tesla dominates the EV scene, and his vehicles don’t come cheap. So you expect something extra when a competitor is priced above that.
Anyway, the best thing about Polestar 3 is its style. It is the most attractive Polestar vehicle to date, except for some of its prototypes. Polestar’s design language actually works much better in an SUV form factor, and the whole look is sleek yet futuristic at the same time.
Even though this SUV is expensive, it looks much better than any Tesla SUV, and it will probably fly off the shelves.
Polestar wants to dominate the electric vehicle segment
Polestar is not a company that simply wants to integrate. He is doing things in a unique way and that is reflected in his models. Furthermore, all Polestar vehicles are built with a great emphasis on design and sustainability.
This is definitely a brand to keep an eye on for years to come. If its excellent initial products are any indication, the Polestar name will be one to watch in the EV segment.