Polestar’s third model, a striking performance-driven electric SUV, will go into production in the United States next year.
Called simply the 3, in line with Polestar’s digital naming strategy, the SUV will be the Volvo Group’s first production car to use parent company Geely’s new SEA architecture.
The Polestar 3 will be built at Volvo’s Ridgehill, SC plant alongside the current S60 and next-gen XC90, in line with the brand’s global aspirations for electric performance. The United States is the world’s second largest market for electric vehicles, after China, where Polestar models are currently built.
Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, said: “The Polestar 3 will be built in America, for our American customers. I remember the big reaction when I first shared Polestar’s vision here in the United States and I’m proud that our first SUV is made in South Carolina.
“The United States is no longer an export market but a domestic market.
The benefits of US production include shorter delivery times for US customers and a reduced environmental impact of shipping cars around the world. This will also allow, says Polestar, to offer the 3 at a competitive price.
The styling of the 3 remains under wraps before its official unveiling, but design boss Max Missoni previously told Autocar that Precept’s futuristic concept would have a strong influence.
“The design language of this car is something you can and should expect in our future cars, starting with the Polestar 3,” he said.
It will position itself as a rival to the Tesla Model X and the Jaguar I-Pace, the SEA foundations having to offer competitive levels of performance. The first car to use this platform, Geely’s new Zeekr 001 shooting brake, claims up to 435 miles of range from its larger 100 kWh battery, and uses a 536 hp twin-engine powertrain for reach 0-62 mph in 3.8 seconds.
The larger 3 will put less emphasis on pace, but Polestar has confirmed that it will focus on aerodynamic efficiency, likely in an effort to maximize range. Other features include a Google-developed infotainment system, as used by the Polestar 2, and a range of “high-end, safety-oriented autonomous driving features”.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-06-16 10:42:08