The Swedish electric performance car brand Polestar revealed yesterday their latest concept car Polestar O2, which they have said “redefines sports roadsters for the electric age.” The Polestar O2 comes after their first concept car Polestar Precept, building on its design language. The hard-top convertible is the brand’s rendition of a thrilling driving experience and open-top performance, with all the benefits of electric mobility. 

“Polestar O2 is the hero car for our brand. It opens the door to our secret chamber of future potential. This is a taste of what we can design and engineer with the talent and technology we have in-house. It looks incredible, and being able to lower the roof and not hear an engine promises a superb sensation.” – Thomas Ingenlath, CEO Polestar

The driving experience of the Polestar O2 is designed to be lively, light but assertive, a mix of emotions unlocked by mixing open-top driving and the purity of electric mobility. The core of the experience is predictability and playfulness, enabled by the tight body control, high rigidity and intuitive dynamics. These are all benefits of the bespoke bonded aluminium platform, adapted from the Polestar 5 model. 

Though the design is related to the Polestar Precept, the O2 has its own distinct character: the low and wide body, compact 2+2 cabin design, minimal overhangs and long wheelbase all embody classic sports car proportions, with a clearly modern electric feel. “This car is a meeting point between technology and art, between precision and sculpture, with a determined but not aggressive stance,” said Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar. Hidden design features such as integrated ducts that improve laminar air flow, and rear lights that function as air blades to reduce turbulence behind the car, all help to maximise the range of the car. 

This new concept car showcases significant advances in both sustainability and technology, both Polestar’s top priorities. The sole material used for all the soft components of the interior is recycled polyester, which dramatically simplifies the recycling process and constitutes a great step towards better circularity while reducing weight and waste. Another innovative feature of the interior is its new thermoplastic mono-material, which refers to the use of a single base material to manufacture different components. One of the focus points of Polestar’s sustainability team has been to recycle, not downcycle. In order to do this, they have integrated a new method of controlling recycled content and improving the circularity of metal components. In the Polestar O2, different grades of aluminium are each labelled accordingly, allowing for more effective recycling. 

As far as technological innovation and connectivity are concerned, this concept car far exceeds prior standards with its autonomous cinematic drone, integrated behind the rear seats. The concept drone, a collaboration with Aerofugia’s consumer electronics brand Hoco Flow, can be deployed while the car is moving from a special aerofoil area behind the rear seats. The drone is fully autonomous and automatically follows the car at speeds up to 90 km/h, before returning to the car. Footage from the drone can be edited and shared directly from the 15-inch centre display once the car is parked. 

Polestar plans to launch three new cars in the next three years starting in 2022, with the goal of incorporating some of the ideas from these concept cars.

Pictures: Polestar