Saturday, December 14, 2024

The 2025 Polestar 4: Nice steering and a small carbon footprint stand out

A white Polestsr 4 in a field
The Polestar 2 is the latest addition to the burgeoning market of midsize luxury electric SUVs. Can we expect it to have what it takes to stand out?

Jonathan Gitlin

According to Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, “To create an exceptional automotive experience, every aspect of the vehicle must be executed with precision and passion.” Ingénlath was discussing the corporation’s latest electric vehicle, a midsize SUV that appears to adopt a coupe-like silhouette, specifically the Polestar 4. While Ingelath’s commitment to sustainability is commendable, it also aligns with sound business practices that benefit the company’s bottom line. Will the Polestar 4 stand out in the market when it’s released?

Polestar claims that its latest electric vehicle (EV) requires significantly less energy than its competitors – the company estimates a remarkably low carbon footprint of just 19.9 tonnes of CO2 emissions.2 from . Polestar has adopted a monomaterial approach to simplify recycling by using the same base plastic for every component within a specific interior trim piece, mirroring approaches employed by some others.

The company’s innovative textiles are crafted from a unique blend of recycled materials, including repurposed fishing nets and plastic containers. The vehicle’s vinyl seats utilise pine oil as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials, while the knitted upholstery fabric incorporates recycled plastic bottles, resulting in a production process that generates zero waste.

The quickest Polestar but

As the greenest Polestar to date, this model boasts exceptional performance capabilities alongside its eco-friendly credentials. We evaluated the Longevity Version’s Twin Motor model, capable of delivering up to 536 horsepower and 506 pound-feet to the wheels. According to the manufacturer, this electric vehicle is capable of offering an impressive range, with its 100 kWh battery pack allowing drivers to travel up to 270 miles (434 km). On a motorway, the 60 mph model accelerates to 60 miles per hour in just 3.7 seconds, while reaching 100 kilometers per hour in approximately 3.8 seconds.

When operating in efficiency mode, at the very least. By altering the engine’s configuration to incorporate varying modes, the clutch system disconnects from the everlasting magnetic motor, allowing for a remapping of the throttle pedal to enhance overall effectiveness. A common feature in addition to this is a warmth pump. The vehicle’s DC fast-charging capability reaches speeds of up to 200 kilowatts, enabling a rapid recharge that can boost the battery pack from 10% to 80% capacity within just 30 minutes. Charging at a residential rate of 11 kW AC, the battery should fully charge from 0-100% in approximately 11 hours.

There might also be an additional Long-Range Single Motor variant featuring significantly reduced power and torque, yet boasting an EPA range of approximately 300 miles (482 km). Powered solely by its rear wheels, the Polestar 4 achieves impressive acceleration with a 0-60 mph time of just 6.9 seconds and a 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.1 seconds, all while boasting a $10,000 lower price tag, starting at an affordable $64,900. Despite being accused of contributing to the shortage, Polestar has confirmed to Ars that it will still fulfill orders placed by customers prior to the announcement. Next year, the production of US-market Polestar 4s will commence in South Korea, a move that could significantly reduce import tariffs.

Jonathan Gitlin

It’s surprisingly good to drive

Making an electric vehicle go quickly isn’t necessarily challenging. While electrical motors swiftly produce most of their torque, they diverge from combustion engines where heightened energy yields no drop-off in efficiency along the performance curve. Even a three-ton behemoth can accelerate swiftly down the highway, leaving a trail of embarrassed supercar owners in its wake.

The Polestar 4’s weight, at 5,192 pounds or 2,355 kilograms, is surprisingly reasonable, considering it has opted to forego air suspension in favour of conventional coil springs and dampers. The single-motor variant features passive suspension, whereas the twin-motor setup comes standard with energetic dampers; upgrading to the efficiency pack further enhances this configuration with stiffer springs, anti-roll bars, and recalibrated damping.

On our test drive, the car’s performance was particularly impressive, with a noticeable difference in agency when seated in the rear seats. Despite the gentle breeze, a faint hum of wind noise was audible at velocity; however, it was largely masked by the more pronounced sound of tire roar, likely a result of the efficiency pack’s larger 22-inch wheels.

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