New details emerge on the Polestar 4 & Polestar 5 EVs [Update]

Update: ‘Polestar dealer network and R&D in the UK’ section updated.

Polestar plans to launch disruptive EVs in the global car market starting in 2022. While the Polestar 3 will be launched this year, the future models to watch out for are the Polestar 4 and the Polestar 5, coming out in the subsequent years. The former will be an SUV-coupe with Tesla Model Y and Audi Q6 e-tron in its crosshairs, while the latter will be the production version of the Polestar Precept to rival the Tesla Model S.

Polestar 4

Design

The Polestar 4 is an electric performance SUV-coupe. If these silhouettes are anything to go by, the Polestar 4 will sport a very slippery design, leading to good aerodynamics and improved range. The sloping roofline establishes its SUV-coupe intentions, meaning the Polestar 4 could certainly attract future buyers from this segment. It also has amplified wheel arches, muscular hips and two character lines merging with the front grille (close off) section.

Specifications

The Polestar 4 will be a high-riding alternative to the Polestar 2, and a mid-size SUV coupe that rivals the likes of the Model Y and the Q4/Q6 Sportback e-tron. Polestar has confirmed that it will sit on Geely’s PMA platform, not Volvo’s SPA2. Geely has rebranded the PMA platform to SEA, an open-source platform that supports the Zeekr 001.

An investor document broke the news of a new motor christened P10 being in the works. Capable of producing 603 hp (450 kW) individually, the electric drive combined with the power of the front motor could help the powertrain generation 871 hp (650 kW). There’s also information about the brand developing a new two-speed dual-clutch transmission for its future EVs. Expect Polestar to introduce single- and dual-motor versions when it launches the 4 next year.

Features

The Polestar 4 will come with Polestar Digital Key, which allows owners to use their connected smartphone as an alternative to the key fob. Multiple Bluetooth sensors in and around the vehicle would communicate with the paired smartphone for the digital key functions. A video streaming app will be built into the infotainment systems as well. Owners would be able to relax and watch TV shows and movies while taking a break during long journeys or when the vehicle is plugged in at a charging station.

Production & release date

Production of the Polestar 4 will take place at a new factory in Hangzhou Bay, China, from the end of 2023. This plant will have an annual production capacity of 240,000 cars. Polestar expects 110,000 units to come from the two SUV coupes (3 and 4). Of the Polestar 4, the company expects to sell 6,000 units in 2023 and then scale up to 43,000 units in 2024 and 79,000 units in 2025.

Polestar has begun preparing for the manufacturing of the 4, as per a report from evlook.com, filed in November 2021. The report cites a tender bidding invitation as the source of new development. Suppliers would know the Polestar 4 by its codename ‘Polestar P419.’ The Hangzhou Bay factory will get the equipment needed to manufacture the new model before March 2023, and trial production may begin by April 2023. As per the report, series production will start about half a year later, in November 2023.

Polestar 4 price

The Polestar 4 will cost in the region of GBP 47,000, Ingenlath told CAR magazine in December. However, the brand is following a top-down strategy for pricing — the CEO said the GBP 47,000 price would come in “eventually” — which means the EV would cost higher at launch. Expect the launch lineup to start at around GBP 55,000. The Tesla Model Y, which is expected to be Polestar 4’s main rival, costs GBP 54,690 in the UK.

Polestar 5

In September 2021, Polestar announced that it plans to go public following a merger with Gores Guggenheim, a special purpose acquisition company of the affiliates of The Gores Group and Guggenheim Capital. The new company formed as a result of the merger, which is likely to happen in H1 2022, will be called Polestar Automotive UK Limited, and Polestar expects a list of it on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “PSNY.” This deal will value Polestar at approximately USD 20 billion.

Along with announcing the merger and public listing, Polestar dropped teasers of its future lineup. The company said that it will launch three new models by 2024. The fifth Polestar model, called Polestar 5, will be a low-riding car, not an SUV. It will be the production Polestar Precept, and thus a grand tourer.

The car has a dynamic roofline that drops sharply toward the rear and flat rear glass. The car meets one of the basic requirements of being a true gran turismo model with a flat silhouette. The low and taut greenhouse and flush door handles add to the car’s highly aerodynamic and stylish character.

Also, unlike the Rolls-Royce-like suicide doors on the Precept, the Polestar 5 will have conventional doors and is also expected to use generous amounts of sustainable materials in the interior.

Polestar 5 price & release date

For the Polestar 5, there are no credible sources of expected pricing. But its main rival, the Porsche Taycan, starts at GBP 72,850 in the UK, so expect the Polestar 5 to be priced in a similar range when it goes on sale in the second half of 2024. It will also compete with models like the Nio ET7 and the Audi e-tron GT. The company targets to sell 11,000 units of the sedan in 2024 and 30,000 units in 2025. Unlike the 2, 3 and 4 high-volume products, the Polestar 5 would be a niche model.

New markets

The Polestar 4 and Polestar 5 will be available worldwide. Polestar improved its global presence from 10 to 19 markets in 2021, with dealers mainly in Europe and the Asia Pacific. In the first half of this year, Polestar plans to add Ireland, Spain, and Portugal to its EU market footprint and enter the Middle East with a presence in Israel, the UAE, and Kuwait. By the end of next year, Polestar aims to be operating in a minimum of 30 global markets.

Polestar dealer network and R&D in the UK

As of now, there are four Polestar dealers in the UK, including London, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Aberdeen. However, it’s easy to buy a Polestar in the UK even if you’re far from these locations. You can log into Polestar’s website, configure your car and pay the deposit. Customers can also book a test drive on the website.

Polestar 5 prototype side profile
Development of the future Polestar models will take place at the company’s R&D centre at the MIRA Technology Park in the UK. Image Source: Polestar

Moreover, Polestar is expanding its R&D centre in the UK. With a strength of 250 members, its team has doubled in size, and the brand plans to expand to over 500 members in the future. The new R&D facilities will be located at the MIRA Technology Park in the heart of the motorsport valley in the UK, which Polestar says will be a conducive environment for growth. The brand is expected to reap benefits from the diverse talent pool and work alongside the Swedish R&D centre to meet its ambitious goals.

Global sales

Polestar has a long way to go before it catches up with the competition. The brand sold 29,000 units globally in 2021 after delivering just over 10,000 units in 2020. With a broader lineup, booming EV market, and a larger retail footprint, the brand expects to deliver 290,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2025.

Polestar 4 FAQs

What is the Polestar 4 release date?

The Polestar 4 will be launched in the first half of 2023 in the global market.

Which EVs will be the Polestar 4 rivals?

The Polestar 4 should compete with the likes of the Tesla Model Y and the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback.

What is the expected price of the Polestar 4?

At launch, expect the price of the Polestar 4 to begin at around the GBP 55,000 mark.

Featured image: Polestar