Polestar today revealed the details of the 2024 Polestar 3, the Swedish all-electric brand’s first SUV model, which is available to order now ahead of the car’s North American arrival in late 2023.
As the brand's first utility vehicle (the existing Polestar 2 crossover has a more car-like profile), the Polestar 3 will have the unenviable task of going up against established high-performance electric SUVs like the Audi E-Tron, BMW iX and, of course, the Tesla Model Y and Model X.
In order to make the biggest splash possible, the Polestar 3 will launch in a dual-motor AWD configuration boasting 489 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, while an optional performance package will bump output to 517 hp and 671 lb-ft.
That power will be biased toward the rear axle for what Polestar claims will be “excellent” driving dynamics, but the rear drive unit will also have a decoupling function that allows the front motor to drive the car alone to conserve electricity.
That electricity will come from a 111-kWh battery promising as much as 610 km of driving range based on generous European estimates, or a more realistic 483 km (300 miles) based on U.S. EPA test methods. The battery will come standard with a heat pump for cabin climate control and battery pre-conditioning to help extend the car’s range in poor weather. The Polestar 3 will also support vehicle-to-grid energy capability.
The Polestar 3 will ride on 21-inch wheels and feature an adjustable air suspension system that can toggle its electronic dampers once every two milliseconds and prioritize ride comfort or handling dynamics depending on which drive mode is selected.
For its first year on the market, the Polestar 3 will come equipped with Plus and Pilot packages that will be optional in subsequent years. For its $97,400 MSRP, the 3 will boast a 14.5-inch touchscreen, air suspension, panoramic roof, all-LED lighting, proximity-sensing door handles, soft-close doors, a heated steering wheel with electric adjustments, and a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo. A Google/Android operating system will run the infotainment system and support over-the-air updates when new software is available.
The $7,000 performance package, along with its extra power, will add 22-inch wheels, grippier tires, performance suspension tuning, and gold trim details.
The Polestar 3’s standard safety kit will include a driver attention monitor capable of safely stopping the car if it senses the driver is drowsy or distracted. Buyers will also get a cabin monitoring system to detect the presence of children or pets left inside. A suite of 12 ultrasonic sensors, five cameras and five radar modules on the exterior will gather the information necessary for the car’s driver safety assists to do their jobs.
In the second quarter of 2023, Polestar will open the order books for an optional LiDAR system with more cameras and sensors the company says will prepare its newest model for autonomous driving.
Polestar says the 3’s interior will accommodate 484 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, or 1,411 litres with the seats folded flat, and will have an additional 32 litres of space in a front storage compartment.
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