Polestar’s third model, a striking electric SUV with a performance focus, will enter production in the US next year.
- The Polestar 3’s design will be inspired by the Precept concept
- It will be based on Geely’s new SEA platform
- It is expected to come with a 543hp, twin electric motor setup
- It is likely to feature a 100kWh battery with a claimed range of 700km
2022 Polestar 3: What is it and where will it be built?
Simply called the 3, following Polestar’s numerical naming strategy, the SUV will be the first Volvo Group car to use parent company Geely’s new SEA architecture.
The 3 will be built at Volvo‘s Ridgehill facility in South Carolina, alongside the current S60 and the next-generation XC90, in line with the electric performance brand’s global aspirations.
The US is the world’s second-biggest global market for EVs, following China, where Polestar models are currently built.
Benefits of US production are said to include shortened delivery times for American customers and reduced environment impact from shipping cars around the world. It will also, claims Polestar, allow the 3 to be offered at a competitive price point.
2022 Polestar 3: design
The styling of the 3 remains under wraps ahead of its official unveiling, but design boss Max Missoni previously told our sister publication Autocar UK that the futuristic Precept concept will have a heavy influence.
“The design language of that car is something that you can and should expect in our future cars, starting with the Polestar 3,” he said.
The 3 will be positioned as a rival to the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X, with the SEA underpinnings expected to offer competitive levels of performance.
2022 Polestar 3: battery, powertrain and performance
The first car to use that platform, the Chinese Zeekr 001 shooting brake, claims up to 700km of range from its largest (100kWh) battery and uses a 543hp twin-motor powertrain to achieve 0-100kph in 3.8sec.
The taller 3 will have less of a focus on outright pace, but Polestar has confirmed that it will emphasise aerodynamic efficiency, likely with the aim of maximising range.
Other features include a Google-developed infotainment system, as used by the Polestar 2, and a range of “high-end, safety focussed autonomous driving features”.
As with the 2, Polestar is expected to offer a dedicated Performance Pack for the 3, bringing uprated suspension and brakes.
Polestar in India
While Polestar is yet to arrive in India in its current guise as a standalone brand, the Polestar badge was previously used to denote high-performance derivatives of Volvo’s range of cars and SUVs. Some of these were available in India, like the previous-gen S60 Polestar. There is currently no word on Polestar’s India launch yet, however, Volvo is set to launch the all-electric XC40 recharge in the country later this year, with bookings for the all-electric SUV opening in June 2021. Also on the cards is the C40 Recharge which is expected to arrive in 2022.
Also see:
Limited edition Polestar 1 to mark end of model’s production run
Polestar logo temporarily banned from use in France