The New North Star: Polestar 4
Polestar, which Volvo turned into an independent company in recent years, has introduced its new model in the D segment, the Polestar 4. Combining the coupe-SUV design language with Scandinavian minimalism, the Polestar 4 is a car that offers a simple and sporty appearance at the same time. Positioned between the Polestar 2 and Polestar 4 models, the car aims to be sustainable by being produced with environmentally friendly materials in line with the brand’s eco-friendly character. So, is it a sporty Volvo, or is the Polestar 4 truly a distinct car?
Resembling the modern Ferrari models with the large lower grille that fills the gap left by the brand logo’s front lights when combined, Polestar 4 features a design with elements such as a low nose and hidden door handles to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The windows of the car are designed without protrusions and frames, similar to those in a Range Rover, providing a visually appealing look and reducing the coefficient of friction. The rear part of the vehicle is designed to be quite simple. With no rear window, allowing for a large panoramic sunroof that extends toward the back, Polestar has achieved an elegant appearance with sharp and slim taillights accompanied by plastic bumper protectors that emphasize the SUV nature of the vehicle.
Offered with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the Polestar 4 is an electric car. With power options ranging between 272 horsepower and 544 horsepower, the model provides a range of up to 600 kilometers, depending on the version, and boasts a 0-100 kilometers/hour acceleration time of 3.8 seconds in the sportier version. The car features batteries that offer charging capabilities, with the long-range versions having a capacity of 102 kWh.
Polestar 4, featuring a minimalist design in its interior, is equipped with a large 15.4-inch infotainment screen. This infotainment system screen utilizes an operating system familiar from Volvos. By placing a relatively smaller 10.2-inch digital display panel low on the front windshield, Polestar incorporates a 14.7-inch head-up display system into the opening on the windshield, aiming to help the driver focus more on the road without distraction. While burying climate controls and shortcuts into the 15.4-inch touchscreen, Polestar maintains a straightforward design in its interior with recycled materials. In the model without a rear window, a screen has been integrated instead of a rearview mirror to provide rear visibility, and an overhead camera offers real-time rearview assistance.
Polestar, aiming to expand the rear living space, lowers the roofline not from the B-pillar, as in typical coupe-SUVs, but from the C-pillar. For rear passengers, Polestar has placed a touchscreen between the front seats. Adjusting the recline of the rear-row seats and incorporating the climate controls for the rear seats into this screen, Volvo’s design achieves better legroom and headspace in the rear living area.
Polestar 4, equipped with all the driving assistance systems found in Volvo models, does not lag behind Volvo’s renowned safety features. With a total of 12 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 1 radar, it offers standard features like lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking. Polestar 4 also features user-friendly details such as the electrochromic darkening of the panoramic sunroof and the change in the head-up display color from white to yellow when activating the snow mode. While Polestar 4 maintains a similar approach to safety and technology as current Volvo models, its primary focus is on producing more sporty, environmentally friendly, and premium vehicles, pioneering the technologies used in Volvo models. What are your thoughts on the Polestar 4?