Just a few months ago, the Volvo hinted that its in-house performance subdivision would start building the 2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe. The Polestar 1 will come as a practical coupe version of the Volvo S90. This sleek-yet-powerful plug-in hybrid sports coupe is likely to be launched in mid-2019.
The inbound Polestar 1 version highlights the same SPA platform underpinning Volvo’s 90-series vehicles. These include the S90, V90, and XC90 sports cars. Of course, there’s a little more to it. The Polestar designers elected to snip 12.6 inches from the wheelbase and another 7.9 inches from the rear overhang to build the two-door. The model measures 177.2 inches long, about 6 inches shorter than a BMW 4-series coupe.
2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid – Exterior and Interior Design
The 2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe presents a front-end design that is evidently lifted from the S90. The overall outline of the Polestar 1 mirrors the Volvo Concept Coupe that was previewed back in 2013.
Contrary to other Volvo siblings, the 2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid makes use of carbon fiber in most of its body panels. The manufacturer claims to have about 500 pounds weight savings.
Regarding the interior of this two-plus-two-seat coupe, we did notice that the cabin draws most of its inspirations from the 90-series. The dashboard has a centrally-oriented center touchscreen and blade-like air vents. Other elements taken from Volvo’s 90-series include the crystal gearshift, the steering wheel, and the center console. Overall, though, the automaker indicates that half of the coupe’s parts are unique to the Polestar 1.
Engine and Battery Range of the 2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid
As per the company, the Polestar 1 has a total system output of about 600 horsepower and 783 pound-feet of torque. Like the case of Volvos, it includes a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-Liter Inline-4 powertrain.
The front wheels receive power from the gasoline engine, while a pair of electric motors distributes power to the rear axle. The chassis conveys some adaptive dampers from Ohlins along with brakes featuring six-piston calipers from Akebono. We can also find the torque vectoring across Polestar 1’s rear axle.
In pure EV mode, the Polestar 1 travels up to 93 miles on battery power alone. Therefore, it becomes more potent than any other conventional PHEV available on the market today. The Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath mentioned in a short statement that all models would become fully electric in the future. Therefore, this plug-in hybrid version functions as a baby step.
2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid — Company Expectations
The 2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe will never be sold at Volvo dealerships. Instead, the Polestar would follow the Tesla model by offering an online platform for vehicle ordering. The Polestar has configured the monthly lease price the same way as a car-sharing subscription, with things like maintenance and insurance being part of it.
The Volvo dealerships, on the other hand, will provide vehicle servicing. However, the customers won’t necessarily have to see a Volvo shop because the subscription includes pickup and drop-off. The company is going to incorporate an app-based key to unlock the car, which allows the smooth flow of pickup and drop-off service.
The manufacturer is yet to announce the pricing. Nevertheless, we believe that the 2020 Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe will become a halo offering which stands atop of the eventual three-model lineup.
The production is scheduled to start off in mid-2019. The company will accept deposits starting October this year. That means deposits are ongoing and if you need one, it’s time to make your order now.
