Polestar 3, 4 and 5 models on their way

Polestar has revealed the next phase of its EV model rollout will comprise three all-new electric cars that are set to join global markets – including Australia – in the next three years.

The Swedish-based car-maker will officially launch in Australia next month with the 2022 Polestar 2 mid-size sedan, pricing details for which will be revealed tomorrow, October 1.

But just days after revealing its plans to go public on the stock exchange, Polestar has revealed the rest of its short-term future model strategy via an investor presentation this week.

The new trio – the Polestar 3, Polestar 4 and Polestar 5 – will help the company in its aspiration to build 290,000 vehicles across numerous Chinese production facilities in the next four years.

That’s 10 times the number of vehicles produced since Polestar kicked off with the not-for-Australia Polestar 1 in 2019.

In a statement, a Polestar spokesperson said Australia was on the radar for all three new models.

“Polestar is fully committed to its global markets, both left-hand drive and right-hand drive. Details regarding our model line-up will be the subject of future announcements,” the spokesperson said.

Next cab off the rank in Polestar’s plans will be the Polestar 3, a Porsche Cayenne-sized SUV that will launch in 2022 with a 600km-plus target EV range.

Among other features, the Polestar 3 will include “unsupervised highway pilot” autonomous ability during its lifecycle.

It will only have two rows of seats, ensuring separation from the related Volvo XC90 successor, which uses the same SPA 2 platform.

The Polestar 3 will also come with a choice of single and dual powertrains, as per the Polestar 2, with the higher-spec version offering more performance than the electric XC90 replacement.

Next in line is the Polestar 4, a premium coupe-SUV that will target rivals including the Porsche Macan. Arriving in 2023, the Polestar 4 will also offer a 600km-plus target EV range.

Finally, in 2024 will come the Polestar 5. Using the already-outed Polestar Precept as its base, the beguiling sports sedan offers a futuristic bent with a sensor-friendly front bumper and a ‘live camera system’ in place of a traditional rear window.

Polestar says some of those elements will be shared with the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, but is keeping its cards close to its chest.

In the investor presentation, Polestar said: “Precept exemplifies Polestar’s design, sustainability and technology ethos, offering a preview of what to expect from other future Polestar models, including the PS3 and PS4.”

Although avant-garde style is a clear foundation for the Polestar brand, its performance heritage isn’t being ignored.

Included in the presentation are details of a “best-in-class” P10 rear-mounted electric motor that produces 400kW, or up to 650kW when combined with a front-mounted motor.

A two speed gearbox with dual-clutch and disconnect feature as well as a compact design (approximately 360x500x640mm) are being promised.

The electric motor will draw charge from an 800V (switchable to 400V) battery pack that has been co-developed by Volvo and Lotus.

The battery pack will offer zero to 80 per cent charge in about 20 minutes, as well as vehicle-to-grid capability. 

Polestar will open three new Chinese production plants in a bid to reach its target of 290,000 sales by 2025.

The car-maker is touting itself as the only “global EV pure play” alongside Tesla, and has hired a drove of “performance-oriented talent and engineers” at its R&D facility in Coventry, UK.

“With the exception of Volvo and Porsche, incumbent OEMs exhibit a relative low speed of transition despite recent acceleration plan announcements,” the company told investors.

“Nio and Xpeng are still regional [Chinese] companies … Lucid is yet to start production and will be a regional [US] player initially.”

Furthermore, Polestar officials say they want to be a climate-neutral manufacturer by 2040, with a “clear second life” recycling strategy at play.

It says this will be possible via blockchain-based data transparency through its supply chain as well as ethical work principles.