Automotive

373-mile Polestar 4 e-SUV coupe trades rear window for HD screen

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The Polestar 4 debuts atop a bed of roses at Auto Shanghai 2023 (the model to the rear left is the Polestar 3)
Polestar
The Polestar 4 debuts atop a bed of roses at Auto Shanghai 2023 (the model to the rear left is the Polestar 3)
Polestar
Polestar gives the new 4 SUV coupe a dramatic world premiere
Polestar
Polestar 4 at Auto Shanghai 2023
Polestar
In addition to its window-free rear, the Polestar 4 carries over its headlamp design from the 2020 Precept Concept
Polestar
Polestar plays around with elimination of the rear window
Polestar
The rear-view camera system replaces the physical rear window view
Polestar
Polestar will offer 544-hp dual-motor AWD and 272-hp single-motor RWD Polestar 4 models
Polestar
With a long-range 102-kWh battery, the Polestar 4 will travel between 560 and 600 km (WLTP) per charge, based on Volvo's preliminary estimates
Polestar
A new rear view
Polestar
The Polestar 4 lights the night with its dual-blade headlamp design
Polestar
The Polestar 4 is based on the premium Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) developed by parent company Geely Holding

Polestar
Inside, Polestar focuses on an immersive rear cabin and sustainable materials that include a tailored knit textile made from 100% recycled PET and animal welfare-secured Nappa leather upholstery
Polestar
The cockpit comes loaded with digital screens and tech
Polestar
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After a few years of finding its footing and easing away teething problems, Polestar seems to be powering forward full-steam ahead. It introduced its first SUV, the Polestar 3, last October, and now it has quickly followed up with a second. The Polestar 4 is a smaller, sportier SUV that combines coupe-inspired styling and performance ambitions with SUV space and comfort. Not only does the Polestar design team drop the roofline into more of a coupe-like profile, it squeezes out the rear window entirely, creating a cleaner look and unique rear seating area.

The Chinese market loves VIP-style rear seats, so maybe it's not so surprising to see Polestar do away with the rear window in a bid to create a more private atmosphere in the rear of its latest electric car. Polestar promises rear passengers will be "cocooned" in an "immersive" and "intimate" environment complete with reclining seats. Hopefully they'll feel good about that as the driver crashes into the structure behind the vehicle while navigating the learning curve involved in focusing on the dangling digital rear-view, rather than through the rear window.

Of course, while it does unnecessarily complicate the basic "eyeballs + big, glass panel" formula that's been doing OK for about as long as the automobile itself, Polestar doesn't leave drivers totally rear-blind. The rear-view camera peeking out from the edge of the curvy glass roof feeds to the high-definition screen hung up in place of a simple rear-view mirror. The company even promises a "far wider field of view than what can be experienced in most modern cars."

The rear-view camera system replaces the physical rear window view
Polestar

And if the driver wants to use the rear-view like a mirror – say, to keep an eye on an infant in the rear seat – he or she can switch the camera feed off and do so ... which just further supports the idea that the windowless rear-end is pretentious tech/design for tech/design's sake. No need to fix or complicate what's already working, if you ask us.

That said, Polestar elaborates that the new body-color rear-end treatment allows it to extend the full-length glass roof over top the rear passengers' heads, adding to the distinctive rear-seat ambience. Further, the electrochromic design of the roof lets occupants switch between opaque and transparent, personalizing the ambience a touch more. There's also a solar system-inspired adjustable interior lighting system to add one more layer of atmosphere.

The winddow-free rear stems from the 2020 Precept concept, which has served as a loose blueprint for Polestar's recent design transition. That concept also previewed the Polestar 4's split Thor's hammer front lighting design, flush door handles and rear blade lighting, not to mention helping influence its coupe-inspired shape.

Polestar gives the new 4 SUV coupe a dramatic world premiere
Polestar

"With Polestar 4, we have taken a fundamental new approach to SUV coupe design," explained Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. "Rather than simply modifying an existing SUV, giving it a faster roofline and as a result, compromising elements like rear headroom and comfort, we have designed Polestar 4 from the ground up as a new breed of SUV coupe that celebrates rear occupant comfort and experience."

In terms of electric powertrain tuning, the 191-in (484-cm) Polestar 4 is all about performance. Polestar takes care to note that the new model is its quickest production vehicle yet, promising a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 3.8 seconds. That time ties to the 536-hp (400-kW) dual-motor model, but the humbler 268-hp single-motor version still promises a sharp, sporty ride with rear-wheel-drive orientation.

Polestar will offer 544-hp dual-motor AWD and 272-hp single-motor RWD Polestar 4 models
Polestar

The single-motor RWD 4 will get the most range – when equipped with the 102-kWh long-range battery pack option, Polestar expects it to go 373 miles (600 km, WLTP) before requiring a charge. The 348-mile (560-km) long-range dual-motor variant doesn't lose too much traveling autonomy, owed in part to a decoupling feature that lets it disconnect the front motor and commute along more efficiently as an RWD.

All Polestar 4 variants will come equipped with 200-kW DC fast-charging and 22-kW AC charging capabilities, complete with a motorized charging door. Bidirectional charing with vehicle-to-load capability will allow the car to power external devices.

The Polestar 4 also comes loaded with the full boat of modern tech, delivered to the fingertips via a 15.4-in touch widescreen powered by Snapdragon Cockpit Platform and neatly integrated with Google via Android Automotive. That infotainment system is further supported by a 10.2-in digital instrument panel and 14.7-in head-up display projection with snow-friendly yellow text option.

Inside, Polestar focuses on an immersive rear cabin and sustainable materials that include a tailored knit textile made from 100% recycled PET and animal welfare-secured Nappa leather upholstery
Polestar

Assistive and safety tech comes powered by a standard suite of 12 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and one radar, and includes the Mobileye's SuperVision Advanced Driver Assistance System. A standard heat pump lets the car repurpose ambient heat in preconditioning the cabin and battery.

The Polestar 4 made its debut at the Auto Shanghai 2023 motor show that kicked off this week and will launch first in China, with production planned to begin at Geely's Hangzhou Bay plant in November. North American, European and Asia-Pacific market launches are planned for early 2024, and prices will start at US$60,000.

Source: Polestar

View gallery - 13 images
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10 comments
paul314
In most modern SUVs (and a lot of other cars) the view from the rear-facing camera is seriously superior to the sliver you get from the rear-view mirror and a small, badly-placed piece of glass. That's why backup cameras became standard in the first place. My only worry is reliability, because those cameras don't last forever.
anthony88
As the owner-driver since 2016 of a Honda HR-V fitted with a lane-watch camera (which I leave on full-time) in the left wing mirror and a rear camera for reverse parking, I've come to wonder why we even need rear windows and mirrors in cars at all except to look at the view. Full-self-driving cars won't even need a windshield. Just put in a big screen to watch movies on the way to wherever.
aksdad
If they could face that rear screen outward to allow me to express myself to lousy drivers around me I'd buy it.
DavidB
I know the definition is creeping (toward chaotic imprecision), but I’ll never be able to call a four-door vehicle a coupe.
Claudio
@paul314 exactly: glass lasts (almost) forever, electronics definitely not
Bob Flint
Still use my eyeballs, instincts, and all three mirrors, plus the wiper on the "Rear Window" 8 out of 10 times there is dirt on the back up camera, which will likely fail...
Martin Yale
Maybe its just my experience but when I have driven cars with these rear view mirror cameras, they have all suffered from glare when the sun hits the camera you get fade out on the image so you lose sight just for say a vital split second when going round a round about or corner. Plus the camera always get dirty - as no one seems to have come up with either a position or protector that keeps the camera clean - unfortunately I live in the country so tractors make the roads a mess so the back of the car usually is dirty in a very short period of time in the wet. At least with cars with a rear screen switching to the mirror still gives you visibility - Do I have to stop and get out of the car to clean the camera every time I want to see out the back when Im driving in the wet. Hopefully they will obviously have solved these simple issues and my experiences are just isolated
DaveWesely
All these comments make good points. As for dirty optics, why don't the designers put the backup cameras inside the vehicle on the rear window? Placed in the rear wiper path, the optics would stay clean.
Polestar missed the mark here. Instead of replacing the inside rear view mirror, they should have replaced the outside mirrors instead. Is there some law against this? Getting rid of the outside rear view mirrors would improve aerodynamics and provide a better viewing angle by placing the cameras further forward. Reducing or eliminating blind spots.
ljaques
@DavidB My '57 Chevy Bel Air Sports Sedan had no B pillar. They also referred to it as a 4dr hardtop. Even more confusing.
The new cameras to replace mirrors do a superior job. Love 'em.
It's too bad that Chinese quality control isn't hammered into their workers. Lots of fires in Chinese EVs these days.
I don't see them getting $60k (and up) for that Polestar. How many of Elon's Tesla tricks are now in other cars there?
Seasherm
I love the comments that the camera won't work because the window will get dirty. Just like the rearview mirror wouldn't work if the back window were dirty. I've seen these cameras get obscured when most needed, but I hope I never have to own a car again without a good rear-facing camera. Also, the comments about reliability are interesting. Of course they can fail, but they are likely to be extrememly reliable.