Polestar confirmed for NZ

 Sweden’s electric car maker will start with a plush fastback.

 CONFIRMATION has at last come from Sweden that New Zealand is to be a market for Polestar, with the flag flying before year-end. 

The electric car marque will initially represent with its current offer, the Polestar 2, a five-door five seat fastback, but it’s probable a sister model due to be unveiled in 2022 will also migrate here. 

Exact model specifications and pricing information will be confirmed closer to market launch timing.

Polestar is owned by Volvo Cars and by extension its parent company Geely, but operates as a separate entity.

Polestar 2 sits on the same underpinning as sister company’s Volvo’s XC40 crossover, but is a larger car at almost 4.6 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and nearly 1.5 metres tall.

Like its now defunct forebear, the Polestar 1, a plug-in hybrid, the 2 was first seen as a Volvo concept car. The Polestar name also has a Volvo background – it was once Volvo's racing skunkworks; brought to attention in this part of the world through the efforts of Scott McLaughlin. That link ended when it morphed into a standalone electric brand.

 The model is at its most affluent and aggressive in a prime Performance Pack representation, which sells for around $120,000 in European markets.

 This version has Brembo brakes and Ohlins adjustable dampers – which have to be hand-adjusted - and runs with twin 150kW electric motors, one mounted on each axle, fed by a 78kWh lithium ion battery, with maximum power of 305kW and 600Nm torque.

Cited range on the WLTP measure is 470km, top speed is 204kmh and it belies its 2123kg weight to achieve 0-100kmh in 4.7 seconds.

The interior is laid out in quality materials but the main attraction is a Tesla-like portrait touchscreen dominating the centre of the dash. This measures 11 inches across the diagonal and it is powered by a Google OS. The model has a digital instrument cluster, with graphics in Swedish Gold. As you do. 

 Next year Polestar is expected to release the 3, which shares a brand-new platform with the next-generation Volvo XC90. This SPA2 underpinning is destined for several other large Volvos. The 3 is expected to deliver with a coupe-like roof, so will be a strict five-seater, whereas the XC90 has seven seats.

With Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea also announced as new markets, the upmarket electric arm of Volvo will represent broadly across the Asia Pacific and will take its global footprint to 18 countries by the end of the year.

“The brand is gathering real momentum, and it is great to be expanding with Polestar 2 beyond our initial global markets in China, North America and Europe,” says Polestar’s chief executive, Thomas Ingenlath.

Preparations in these markets are at different stages as the brand organises market launches and eventually the opening of online sales.

Specific dates and details for each market will be published locally to include model specification and product pricing.

Effort to keep Polestar and Volvo separate is taken seriously in Europe, where rather than sharing showroom space, Polestar cars are offered from a network of 'Polestar Spaces', usually situated in busy town-centre locations.

In South Korea and Australia, local independent Polestar sales units are being established and new managing directors have already been appointed.

The other markets will likely be operated on an importer basis, with local partners to be confirmed in due course, tonight’s announcement says.

 “Specific roll-out timing is at an advanced planning stage and the recruitment of key individuals has begun,” comments Nathan Forshaw, Polestar’s new head of the China and Asia Pacific regions.  

“While we are growing rapidly, we are ensuring both our organisation and processes ensure a consistent and truly Polestar experience for our customers, wherever they are based.”