No longer a Volvo clone
The 3 adopts Polestar's new shovel-nosed styling language and moves the brand away from the Volvo-ish look of the current 1 and 2 models. It will share with Volvo under the skin, of course - the 3 is built on the same electric platform as the next-generation XC90, and will be built in the same factories in the US and China.
At launch, Polestar says that the 3 will have a dual-motor, four-wheel drive system. Single motor versions should follow on later, although Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath has previously hinted that the 3 will be noticeably more sporty and faster than the equivalent XC model.
No seven-seater
The 3 will also be differentiated from the XC90 by being a five-seat only model - the next XC90 will continue that car's tradition of coming with seats for seven.
The 3 has a claimed range target of 600km, and while Polestar isn't talking performance nor battery specifics just yet, that would suggest a net battery capacity of at least 80kWh. The 3's low-slung roof (by SUV standards at any rate) should give it better aerodynamics for improved motorway range.
It is also being designed for autonomous driving, with Polestar claiming that the 3 will come with "best-in-class LiDAR sensor from Luminar and centralised NVIDIA computing power." Such systems won't be available at launch, however, and are slated to appear "in time."
"Polestar 3 is the SUV for the electric age. Our design identity evolves with this high-end large luxury EV, with a strong, individual brand character," said Ingenlath. "With this car, we bring the 'sport' back to the SUV, staying true to our performance roots. This is a major milestone for our company, one that boosts our growth trajectory and takes us into our next phase."
Sales times 10 by 2025
The 3 will be the second Polestar model to launch in Ireland (we never officially got the sleek, expensive Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe) and should go into production in early 2023. It's part of Polestar's plan to grow its sales by a factor of ten worldwide, from 29,000 last year to 290,000 by 2025.
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