Nother CarGuy

Polestar has been teasing us with an upcoming concept for weeks now, and the wait is finally over as the fully-electric Precept grand tourer just broke cover. The Precept concept represents a vision of the brand’s future direction, boasting an advanced digital interface, sustainable interior materials and quite a lot of safety features. “Precept is a declaration, a vision of what Polestar stands for and what makes the brand relevant,” said the company’s CEO, Thomas Ingenlath. “The car is a response to the clear challenges our society and industry face. This is not a dream of a distant future, Polestar Precept previews future vehicles and shows how we will apply innovation to minimise our environmental impact.” Visually, the Precept looks properly futuristic, thanks to a design philosophy dubbed “Minimalistic Athleticism”. The concept’s sculpted form is said to set the tone for future Polestar vehicles, while its proportions make it quite imposing to look at. It has a 3...

Polestar finally went official with the 2, the brand’s all-electric compact fastback and perhaps the world’s first true rival to the Tesla Model 3. The all-electric 2020 Polestar 2 will launch featuring two electric motors with a combined output of 402hp (300kW) and 487lb-ft (660Nm) of torque, a 78kWh battery pack for markets outside China and a targeted range of 275 miles (EPA), or 500km (WLTP) depending on which side of the pond you live in. Polestar is also targeting a starting price of 39,900 euros (around $45k in current exchange rates) in Germany but for the first 12 months of production they will only offer a ‘Launch’ edition, which will be priced at 59,900 euros in Germany and $63,000 in the USA, not including any government incentives. As expected, the new Polestar 2 is based on Volvo’s CMA platform, which is also used on models like the XC40 compact SUV and the Lynk&Co 01. Polestar claims that the floor-mounted battery pack increases the chassis’ rigidity and ...

Polestar’s teasing campaign for the all-electric 2 is in full swing, releasing yet another image that partially reveals the design of the rear end. The newly released image shows the LED taillight design, which retains the lobster-claw look but will get a full-width LED strip running across its rear end, which will surely result in a very distinctive look during the night. The upcoming Polestar 2 will be the brand’s first all-electric model and its second overall, adopting a four-door coupe bodystyle and similar dimensions with the Tesla Model 3, which is expected to be the model’s main rival in the market. Reports suggest that the Polestar 2 will pack a pair of electric motors with a combined output of 395hp (400PS) and a driving range of up to 310 mile (500km). Polestar has already revealed that the electric 2 will become the world’s first production car to feature Google’s all-new Android HMI infotainment system that will feature popular services like Google Assistant, Ma...

Polestar is almost ready to uncover their second product, the ‘2’, but not before teasing it a bit more. The above image was discovered in an official mobile app that allows users to explore some features of the Android-based HMI infotainment system that will equip the car. It shows a couple of angular creases on the hood and a large panoramic roof. The image also provides another glimpse of the LED lighting units, with the rear ones being joined together by a light strip, as previewed in another teaser released a few weeks ago. The Polestar 2 is a four-door coupe equipped with a zero-emission powertrain that’ll rival the Tesla Model 3. The electric motor(s) will produce around 395 hp (400 PS / 294 kW), according to the automaker, whereas the battery pack will allow it to travel for roughly 300 miles (482 km). Although there’s no official word on its launch, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Polestar 2 debuts at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, given that the event is just a lit...

The Polestar 2 is right around the corner as the company has released the first teaser image of the electric vehicle. Set to be a stylish four-door fastback, the Polestar 2 will be a high-performance EV that will compete with the Tesla Model 3. The teaser image isn’t very revealing, but it shows the car will have a rear charging port and slender taillights which are connected by a thin illuminated strip. In keeping with traditional fastback styling, the Polestar 2 has a gently sloping rear window which meets a relatively short trunk. We can also get a glimpse of the car’s flowing bodywork which appears to be interrupted by a subtle character line. The automaker is keeping details under wraps, but they confirmed previous reports suggesting the model will have an Android-based infotainment system. Dubbed the Google Android HMI (Human Machine Interface), the system will feature Google Assistant which is a virtual assistant similar to Amazon’s Alexa. Besides confirming some tech...

Volvo is getting ready to unveil the third member of its re-engineered ’60’ family, as a new S60 saloon will soon join the XC60 SUV and V60 Estate. Poised to take on rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Jaguar XE and BMW 3-Series, the premium compact four-door model isn’t shying away from showing its face on video. Looking essentially like a shrunken S90, it gets the Thor’s hammer LED headlights, signature grille with the Polestar badging, mean-styled front bumper with what appears to be a carbon fiber-made apron and large air intakes. This is the top-of-the-line model of the series, which will be known officially as ‘Polestar Engineered‘. It benefits from a few styling upgrades over the regular versions, such as a special suspension setup with adjustable shock absorbers and strut bar, whose design is shared with the Polestar 1. With a combined output of 409hp (415PS / 305kW) and 494lb-ft (670Nm) of torque (in US-spec), courtesy of an internal combustion uni...

The new Polestar One is finally out, with the company releasing all the details on their new halo model during a special event in Shanghai. Set to become a halo model for the brand, the new Polestar One is a two-door, 2+2 seat Gran Tourer that’s powered by a powerful ‘Electric Performance Hybrid’ powertrain churning out 600hp and 1000Nm (737lb-ft) of torque. As expected, the new Polestar One is based on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) but the standalone performance brand claims that around 50 percent of their latest creation is new and bespoke, created by their own engineers. This happened because Polestar wants the One to be a true performance coupe, giving it things like an all-new Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) and a full carbon-fiber bodywork that not only is lighter but also improves torsional stiffness by 45 percent. Polestar 1's rear axle is powered by two electric motors that also enable torque vectoring for m...

After moving away from Volvo last week, Polestar has started the teasing game that will eventually lead to the presentation of a new car. Teased on Instagram, the vehicle doesn’t give its nature away, and there's not much to work with in regards to finding out what exactly we're looking at here, because it could be just about anything at this point. However, the most plausible scenario builds upon a report published a few months ago, which said that Polestar's first model will be a two-door coupe. If this turns out to be the case, then expect plenty of carbon fiber used in its body, and as much as 600hp coming from the engine compartment. You might want to take that last bit with a grain of salt, though, because after parting ways with Volvo, Polestar is becoming a separate brand that focuses on zero-emission vehicles, and the '600hp' bit comes in contradiction with the EV technology. Of course, there's always the possibility of a new S90/V90 Polestar...

Following an announcement made this summer, Volvo is letting its performance arm, Polestar, go, as it will become a separately-branded company focusing on pure-electric cars. The decision was marked with a rather dramatic message posted by Polestar on Instagram, which leaves nothing to the imagination: "The End." It may be the end to the Volvo Polestar as we know it, but the brand will live on, separately, and it will focus on the development of high-performance electrified cars. It's still too early to talk about the exact vehicles that will be made under the close watch of Geely, Volvo and Polestar's parent company, but reports are talking about the 60 and 90 series models. Taking the reins at the stand-alone brand is Thomas Ingenlath, Volvo's Senior Vice President of Design, who is joined by the Swedish automaker's Senior Vice President of Corporate Communication, Jonathan Goodman, as Chief Operating Officer. The last Volvo Polestar models ...

Volvo's performance brand, Polestar, has dropped the veil off the 2018MY S60 and V60, which get a new exterior package. Jointly developed by the engineers of Polestar and Cyan Racing, the brand's motorsport partner, they feature data and learnings derived from the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). All cars get a new front splitter, side sills, and rear spoiler extension, made from carbon fiber, which increase downforce by 30 percent, grip, and high-speed stability. Other changes include carbon fiber side mirror casings, high-gloss black Polestar diamond cut wheels, and a new exterior color called Bursting Blue Metallic. The interior of the 2018 Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar remains pretty much identical to the one of their predecessors, except for a few tweaks such as the new seat upholstery, blue contrast stitching, and Polestar embroidering. Volvo claims that more than 250 components have been changed, compared to the regular models, which also include the...

With as much as 400 horsepower in top T8 spec, the new Volvo XC60 is no slouch. Still, those looking for a little more of an edge can now turn to Polestar who is now offering its powertrain optimization package for the compact crossover. While it may not be a full-on performance overhaul, it promises to augment the driving experience that much higher. In optimizing Volvo's road cars, Polestar focuses on “five key areas of the powertrain.” The gearbox shifts faster, and shift points have been recalibrated to make the most of the engine's torque band. It also holds onto a lower gear for longer in a corner, while the throttle has also been tweaked for quicker response both on and off, and the engine has been tuned to deliver more power. Just 21 extra horsepower, mind you, but that's enough to match the optimized XC90 with the same powertrain, making them both the most powerful road-going production Volvos ever made. But in the smaller XC60, those 421 horses ought to g...