Polestar has announced its new ‘3’ fully-electric large SUV will be priced from an estimated start point of $135,000 before on-road costs when it is released in 2023.
The Polestar 3 is mechanically related to the forthcoming Volvo EX90 luxury SUV that is yet to be revealed, with the Swedish electric crossovers sharing the SPA2 platform.
The Polestar 3 is similar in size to a Porsche Cayenne and a little smaller than a Volvo XC90
From its estimated starting price of $135,000, the Polestar 3 will compete in Australia with a raft of forthcoming premium electric SUVs, including the Audi E-tron, BMW iX, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, and the forthcoming Porsche Macan EV.
Dual motor version first, single motor likely later
At launch, the Polestar 3 will be fitted with dual motors producing 360kW of power (489 horsepower) and 840Nm of torque in standard trim, or 380kW/910Nm with an optional performance pack.
Top speed will be limited to 210km/h on both variants – which sits higher than Volvo’s governed top speed of 180km/h, but is significantly lower than the maximum velocity of BMW’s autobahn-storming iX M60, which can hit 250km/h.
Leather, wool or an artificial textile are all available inside the Polestar 3
With the optional performance pack, the Polestar 3 will be capable of the sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds – 0.4sec faster than in standard form, the Swedish brand claims.
While the Polestar 3 will be built in the United States and China, Chasing Cars understands that Australian-delivered examples will be built in the latter plant at Chengdu.
But Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath has also revealed that European production will commence toward the middle of the decade as the Swedish-headquartered brand aims to diversify its vehicle sourcing.
107kWh usable battery promises about 600km range
The Polestar 3 is fitted with a 107kWh usable lithium-ion battery made up of 204 prismatic cells in 17 modules.
Claimed efficiency sits between 20.1kWh/100km and 23.1kWh/100km, and Polestar is targeting WLTP range of 560-610km for the dual motor variant.
The Polestar 3 rides on 21-inch wheels, with air suspension and Brembo brakes, as standard
Later, a more efficient single rear-motor version is expected to join the Polestar 3 lineup that should boost efficiency by 10 to 20 percent.
Despite running a 400-volt architecture, Polestar says the large SUV will be capable of touching a charging speed peak of 250kW. It claims that a 10-80 percent charge to replenish about 420km of range takes 30 minutes when using a DC charger of 250kW+ speeds.
How big is the Polestar 3?
The Polestar 3 measures 4900mm in length and 2120mm wide (with mirrors), making it similar in size to a Porsche Cayenne but a bit shorter than the current Volvo XC90. It is a five-seater only.
The vehicle will weigh around 2670kg in fully-specified form, though Polestar claims the weight distribution is a perfect 50-50 front-rear.
The hero colour for the Polestar 3 is ‘snow’
A frunk is fitted with 32 litres of space while the boot measures in at 484 litres, though 90 litres of that is said to be underfloor storage. Towing capacity si expected to be 2200kg.
A sporty wheel/tyre package will be standard on the dual motor version, with 21-inch cast alloy wheels fitted with staggered 295/40 R21 rear tyres and 265/45 R21 boots on the front. The tyres will be Michelin Pilot Sport 4 EV or Continental ContiSportContact 7.
A 14.5-inch touchscreen with Google Android Automotive is standard
However, the performance pack will switch out the 21s for even bigger 22-inch wheels with Pirelli P-Zero tyres with a similar 295/265 staggered width arrangement.
Adaptive air suspension, with a self-levelling function and ZF active dampers, will be standard – as are four-piston Brembo brakes with gold callipers.
Lots of equipment in well-kitted launch models
Polestar will release the 3 initially only as a highly-equipped launch model with a number of desirable option packages as standard – though these will revert to extra-cost items later on.
At launch, all Polestar 3 models will have a plus pack and a pilot pack as standard, with the latter adding higher-grade adaptive semi-autonomous safety features, including pilot assist with acceleration, braking and steering support under 130km/h, and a head-up display.
The performance pack adds yellow detailing, larger wheels and more power
The plus package brings a 25-speaker Bowers and Wilkins stereo with Dolby Atmos capability to the fore, plus 21-inch black wheels, heating for the steering wheel and rear seats, aluminium trim, and traced wool seating upholstery or an alternative ‘MicroTech’ textile.
However, standard on all Polestar 3 dual-motor variants will be a 14.5-inch central display and 9.-inch digital driver display running Google Android Automotive, onboard internet for three years, panoramic glass roof, electric tailgate, fully-electric heated front seats, a heat pump, LED headlights and tail lights, and acoustic laminated windows.
The dual-motor version has mechanical torque vectoring on the rear motor via a dual-clutch system – but the car can also disconnect the rear motor to boost range.
At launch, all cars will be dual-motor AWD with high specification
A performance pack will be optional from launch. This brings a 20kW/70Nm performance bump purely via software, plus the aforementioned larger 22-inch wheels in black. The pack also adds ‘Polestar engineered chassis tuning’, additional gold detailing, and a range optimisation drive mode.
In Europe, the performance pack will cost 6600 euros, or about $10,000.
Standalone options include higher-definition 1.3-megapixel LED headlights, metallic paint, non-tinted acoustic laminated glass, and a fully-electric folding tow bar.
The Polestar 3 arrives in Australia in 2023
Nappa leather with seat cooling, power side bolsters and massaging functions will also be optional, as an alternative to the generally leather-free interior that is fitted standard. The nappa option also swaps in black ash inlays.
Polestar says over-the-air (OTA) software upgrades will be standard for life.
In Australia, the Polestar 3 will benefit from a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, and it will be sold with free servicing for five years/160,000km. The battery pack is warranted to 70 percent of its factory state-of-health for eight years/160,000km.
