The wraps have come off the 2024 Polestar 4, a D-segment SUV-coupe that is priced below the Polestar 3 SUV and above the current Polestar 2 fastback. Following its public debut at this week's Shanghai motor show, the Polestar 4 goes into production in China later this year and goes on sale in Ireland in early 2024. It's expected to start in the region of €70,000.
No rear window for unique appearance
Though the Polestar 4 shares its front-end appearance with the equally-new Polestar 3, and has a vague familial resemblance to the Polestar 2, it's quite a unique design, taking the form of a SUV-coupe. Indeed, if Polestar hadn't called it that, some might not have considered it to be an SUV at all. It's a large car, though, measuring 4,839 millimetres long with a 2,999mm wheelbase. Those measurements are similar to the Polestar 3's and also on a par with the Audi Q8 e-tron's.
However, the Polestar 4 will grab attention for its dramatic rear styling, not its size, as it has no rear window at all. To prevent the rear-seat passengers from feeling claustrophobic, there's a full-length glass roof and long side windows, while the driver sees out the back via a rear-view 'mirror' fed images from a roof-mounted exterior camera. It's quite a bold setup.
The boot behind holds a useful 500 litres and there's an additional 15 litres of storage under the nose.
Sustainable and high-tech cabin
Polestar makes a big deal about using sustainable materials in the cabin of the 4, promising that it will publish a full lifecycle assessment showing the true carbon footprint of the car alongside its 'Polestar 4 Product Sustainability Declaration' in 2024. There's a lot of recycled material inside, though it's still designed to be luxurious and it will still be possible to order leather upholstery - 'animal welfare-secured Nappa leather' no less.
The large central touchscreen measures 15.4 inches across the diagonal and the infotainment system is powered by Android Automotive OS and the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform so it has Google built-in. Don't worry, it still features Apple CarPlay.
Two electric powertrains
Polestar has confirmed that the 4 will be offered in two 'Long range' specifications to begin with, using the same 94kWh (net) lithium-ion battery pack for a range of up to 600 kilometres. That's for the single-motor, rear-drive variant. That motor is rated at 272hp, with up to 343Nm of torque and Polestar quotes a 0-100km/h time of 7.4 seconds. Preliminary data suggests that it should average lower than 15kWh/100km on the WLTP cycle.
The second powertrain adds a motor to the front axle for all-wheel drive and total outputs of 544hp and 686Nm of torque. This version does 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds, leading Polestar to call it its fastest production car yet. The extra weight takes from its efficiency a little, though it should better 17kWh/100km and have an official range of up to 560km.
Both models get 200kW DC charging and 11kW AC charging capability as standard, along with a heat pump. The dual-motor Polestar 4 can tow up to 2,000kg, a figure reduced to 1,500kg for the single-motor model.