2019 Polestar 1 Unveiled, 600 HP, 1000 Nm

The Polestar 1 has been unveiled as a 600 HP, 1000 Nm grand tourer. This is the first Volvo model to be released bearing only the Polestar name. Polestar is Volvo's in-house performance arm.

Expected to roll off the production line in mid 2019, the new Polestar 1 combines an electric powertrain with a traditional internal combustion engine, outputting 600 HP and 1000 Nm. Polestar calls the powertrain “Electric Performance Hybrid” and the model can travel up to 150 km on pure electric power.

Although the Polestar 1 is built on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA), engineers at the company has re-engineered about 50% of car’s hardware, with a carbon fibre body that keeps weight down and improves torsional stiffness by 45%. Additionally, the Polestar 1 is the world’s first car to feature the new Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension (CESi) advanced chassis technology.

Production of the Polestar 1 will commence at the new purpose-built Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China.

As for future models, Polestar is looking to introduce the Polestar 2 sometime in 2019, slated to be the first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) from Volvo. This new mid-sized model will rival the recently-introduced Tesla Model 3. Subsequently, Polestar is also going to introduce its third model, a BEV SUV, aptly called 3.

However, you can't just walk into any Volvo dealer to buy a Polestar 1, as the new model can only be ordered online. Additionally, all future Polestar models are offered with a two or three year subscription, inclusive of pick-up and delivery servicing, plus the ability to rent other vehicles under the Volvo or Polestar range. 

At the end of the subscription, the customer can either choose to return the car, or Polestar will collect the car and delivers another model. Polestar will then refurbish the vehicle and prepare it for a another customer as a pre-owned vehicle.

Volvo expected 40% of global car sales within the next 20 years to be electric.