Driving the 2020 Polestar 1: An Exclusive Plug-in Hybrid That Is Both Beauty and Beast "barrons/Penta". 8986

By 

Jim Motavalli

In terms of pure driving pleasure, the 2020 Polestar 1 is a serious challenge to Tesla. But the reason Elon Musk isn’t having trouble sleeping is that the new entry’s exclusivity and price gives it a supercar sales profile. Only 1,500 will be built for the entire world (500 a year for three years), and they’re being sold in the U.S. for $156,500. That’s if there’s any left. The allocation for the U.S. is only approximately 150 per year, a Polestar spokeswoman said. 

The Polestar 1 was first shown in Shanghai, China, in late 2017. It went on sale in Europe soon after and quickly sold out, arriving here late last year as a 2020 model. If the coupe shape looks familiar, that’s because it’s based on the Volvo Concept Coupe designed by Thomas Ingenlath and debuted by the company in 2013. The long delay in going from concept to production didn’t hurt the design any—it still looks contemporary. The underpinnings are a shortened S90 Volvo chassis, but the powertrain has considerably more oomph. 

This is a plug-in hybrid, so it doesn’t need a huge V-8 for performance’s sake. Instead, it uses a two-liter four—something of an industry standard—but “twincharged” with both turbo and supercharging. The engine (sourced from the Volvo XC90 T8) delivers 326 horsepower in U.S. form, with all that mojo going to the front wheels (where the gas motor combines with an electric motor to produce 375 horsepower in total). There is an estimated 78 miles of all-electric range via a 34-kilowatt-hour battery pack. 

We’re far from done. At the back wheels are two more electric motors, these offering another 232 horsepower. The maximum output is an incredible 619 horsepower, and an even more incredible 738 foot pounds of torque. The latter figure is why initial acceleration is so seat-of-the-pants visceral, with a zero to 60 miles per hour time of just 3.8 (some say 4.2) seconds. Top speed is 155 miles per hour. 

Let me state up front that the Polestar 1 will probably not be your only car, especially if you’ve got a family. The front seats are glorious but, extended for six-footers, they take up nearly all the rear-seat legroom. And the trunk space is pretty limited, though stowing the occasional small suitcase yields a really interesting view of the battery pack through a glass partition. A handsome zippered case contains the car’s 110-volt charger. 

But when you’re driving with just one passenger, the Polestar 1 is hard to beat. The cabin contains some borrowings from the Volvo parts bin, but considering the high marks earned by the company’s interiors, that’s not a bad thing. I recognize that stop/start knob. The appointments are not drop-dead opulent, but they’re really thoughtfully designed, clearly labeled, and ideally positioned, using top-drawer materials. The nine-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen (shades of Tesla) is easy to use once its operating secrets are revealed.

The seating position is quite low. You drop into Polestar 1. The crystal shifter for the eight-speed automatic is like a piece of Lalique sculpture, but the way it works—an individual movement up or down to go through each gear—is awkward at first. The ride is stiffer than expected, but it’s a price you pay for a car that corners with so little lean. The damper settings can be adjusted, though it’s a bit of a job. This car would be great fun on the twisty Lime Rock track, or making a fast night run from Nice to Cannes. 

On the American highways and side roads, the entertainment comes from leaving stoplights at unaccustomed speeds and enjoying unprecedented passing power. Visibility is very good all around. 

This is a supercar you can enjoy without guilt. The Polestar 1 is rated at 58 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), compared to Italian stallions with twin-turbo V-8s that struggle to achieve 18 mpg on the highway. 

This is the first Polestar. After the plug-in hybrid debut, the model goes all-electric with the more affordable ($59,900) Polestar 2. The company calls it a performance fastback, and the looks are like a cross between Tesla’s Model Y crossover and a Volvo sedan. The company is offering first drives in New York next month.

This will be the volume Polestar, and it should be eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, as well as some state incentives ($2,000 in California). The car sports a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and produces 408 horsepower and 487 pound feet of torque. It should be fast. The first American customers are scheduled to get their cars later this year.  

Polestar 1 comes loaded, but Polestar 2 will have option packages, including a $5,000 performance pack, a $4,000 Nappa leather interior, $1,200 20-inch alloy wheels and $1,200 metallic paint choices. We may see autonomous Polestars soon—the company has a new partnership with the U.S.-based self-driving giant Waymo.

 

Source: barrons.com