The Polestar 4 has just debuted as the Swedish brand's newest electric sedan. And although it's a sedan, the company is calling it an SUV despite being closer in overall height to its Polestar 2 sedan than the 3 SUV. But that's not even the oddest part. The strangest part of the Polestar 4 is that it doesn't have a rear window.
The company's head of design says there's no rear window because it gives rear-seat passengers a "unique experience." Polestar design boss Maximilian Missoni said that it also pushes the rear header back, a move that plays a big part in occupant safety. The move lets the roof glass extend rearward over the heads of those backseat passengers, however, so it won't be dark back there.
Instead of glass, the Polestar 4 uses a high-def screen in the mirror and a roof-mounted rear camera. Polestar says this gives drivers a wider field of view, but in our experience, these cameras don't show you what's close behind the vehicle. The mirror can be turned back into a mirror to let you see your rear-seat passengers.
Polestar says it has added more low-carbon and circular supply chain materials to the 4 than prior models. This includes traceability for battery materials, more easily-recycled mono-materials in the cabin, and a knit textile seating option made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
This will be Polestar's fastest model to date, hitting 100 km/h in under four seconds. Maximum output from the permanent magnet motors is 544 hp, and there will be a rear-drive single-motor option. Both versions will come with a 102-kWh battery, and the automaker aims to top 500 km of range. The Polestar 4 will charge at up to 200 kW, has vehicle-to-load capability, and will have a standard heat pump.
Polestar will continue to use its Android Automotive OS infotainment system, now on a larger 15.4-inch screen. This will have Google built-in, including Google Maps and the Google Play store.
A total of 12 cameras, one radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors will be fitted to the Polestar 4. One of those is a driver monitoring camera that tracks eyes and head movements to make sure the driver is alert and actually driving.
The Polestar 4 launches in China this November, built at a plant powered solely by renewable energy. It is expected to launch later in 2024 in North America, with more details to follow.
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