Polestar 3 seen as challenging Tesla dominance in the EV arena
Polestar is Volvo’s most fabulous weapon to challenge the dominance of Tesla in the EV world. The brand’s core values such as affordability, stylish looks, and great efficiency have helped it taste success in the European markets.
The electric-only Swedish car brand was initially established in 1996 with a mission of supporting Volvo’s racing division win the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Later, Polestar has become been the production centre of most of the recent Volvo cars. The company was instrumental in engine modification of some Volvo models. Performance cars like Volvo XC90 Polestar, the Volvo S60 Polestar, and the Volvo V60 Polestar are examples currently available globally.
Polestar 3, a Serious Rival to Model X
Polestar 3, the first SUV come from Volvo’s EV division is a serious rival to the Model X, the big and stylish SUV from Tesla. It is an upgraded version of an existing model, the Polestar 2 crossover, in terms of size, performance, technology and price. The Polestar 1 was a limited-production hybrid coupe, which was later discontinued. Built on the company’s SPA2 platform which is being shared with the upcoming Volvo EX90, the Polestar 3 is slightly smaller than the BMW iX.
The exterior design is inspired by the Precept concept in order to have better aerodynamics and styling. The front fascia carries a slim aero bridge that feeds air over the bonnet (the Polestar 2’s, front fascia has a blanked off grille). You can see the signature T-shaped headlight design is being carried over to the new model. Also, it gets black lower panels on the bumpers and sills for a sleeker look. Panoramic sunroof and C-shaped LED tail lights and 21-inch alloy wheels are the other features notable from the outside.
The vehicle has remarkable design similarities with Polestar Percept concept. Apart from the muscular SUV proportions, the aerodynamic design underlines the vehicle’s character. The rear spoiler blending with the roofline, the aero blades at the outer edges of the bumper, and the front aero wing on the bonnet enhances aerodynamic efficiency.
Features that could take you to newer levels
The Android Automotive infotainment system is upgraded over from that of the Polestar 2. A 14.5-inch portrait touchscreen with a snapdragon processor is placed at the centre of the dashboard. 25-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system provides excellent listening experience. The vehicle has an ‘AI brain’ in the form of a new Nvidia Drive core computer to process data from the sensors.
As part of Volvo’s latest safety software, there are five radar modules, five external cameras and 12 external ultrasonic sensors. An optional Pilot Pack with LiDAR will be offered later. It will also be enabled with enhanced 3D-scanning of the car’s surroundings to offer more accurate real-time data.
It will have a 111 KWH battery and a dual-motor configuration that delivers power up to 517 horsepower a peak torque of 840 Nm along with an estimated 300(600 + Kms) miles of EPA-rated range. Polestar 3 has a claimed top speed of 210 kmph and can achieve a speed of 0 to 100 KMPH in 5.0 seconds.
This SUV is bult with sustainable materials starting with battery development for optimum space utilization. With deliveries scheduled for late 2023, Price starting at about $84,000, the Polestar 3 is indeed a powerful electric SUV having a distinct Scandinavian design and excellent driving dynamics.
