In recent years, the number of electric vehicles available has slowly grown and grown. More and more companies are now producing EVs, but one of the major players is still one of the earliest adopters and that of course is Tesla. Elon Musk’s company produces many of today's electric cars, with models ranging all the way from the Model 3 to the Model X. The latter is of course their big, SUV style model, but it is set to come under threat from several rivals.
One of those rivals is the all-new Polestar 3, the first SUV to come from Volvo’s EV division. Polestar have made a bit of a name for themselves producing stunning, luxury EVs at a reasonable price, with stylish looks and great efficiency. The Polestar 1 and 2 have been a coupe and sedan respectively, but now the company has dipped its toes into the SUV world, as many other car companies have done so. And it is coming right for the Tesla Model X, and it has every opportunity to outshine the Tesla.
Sustainability Is At The Heart Of The Polestar 3
Polestar have made a big deal about the sustainability aspect of the car, with the company aiming to use sustainable materials within the SUV. Bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery is one of the materials used within the car, as well as animal welfare-certified leather and a fully traceable wool upholstery. However, it is in the technology aspect where the Polestar 3 is best equipped to take on Tesla. This is the first Polestar vehicle to feature the NVidia Drive core computer, which runs software from Volvo. A Snapdragon Cockpit Platform powers the infotainment system, allowing for HD displays and top quality audio within the Polestar 3.
When it comes to the infotainment, Polestar have taken Android as the OS system for it. It's even been co-developed with Google with its 14.5-inch center display. A highlight and an evolution of technology first seen in the Polestar 2. This makes the Polestar 3 the first car in the world with Google built-in, a revolution from the two brands. It's certainly one way to get the jump on rivals like Tesla. While this is hugely impressive, so is the powertrain package at the heart of the SUV.
A Dual-Motor Package Is At The Hear Of The Polestar 3
The new Polestar 3 features a dual-motor configuration, and the company says it has a power bias towards rear-wheel drive. When it comes to the power, Polestar say it produces 489 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque. In a real-world environment, that is more than enough. There is though an optional performance pack for those who want more, with it bumping the power up to 517 hp and 671 lb-ft of torque. An electric torque vectoring dual clutch function is present on the rear axle, something that was present on the Polestar 1.
The battery pack that the Polestar 3 comes with is an 111 kWh battery pack, providing the car with plenty of driving range. In fact, range anxiety should not be an issue for anyone, with a range of 610 km of real world range which roughly equates to around 330 miles EPA. As with the previous Polestar models, the new Polestar 3 looks to be a very efficient EV. Polestar says that a mechanical heat pump, included as standard, not only helps utilize ambient heat for the cabin climate and battery preconditioning, but it should help the overall range of the car in adverse weather.
Advanced Suspension To Provide Sharper Handling
One thing we can probably agree on is that the Tesla Model X is hardly the best handling car in the world. Polestar though have worked hard on the suspension of the Polestar 3, and it features dual-chamber air suspension. This is in all variants of the car such as the Plus Pack, Pilot pack and the Performance Pack. The system allows the Polestar 3 to alternate from comfort to dynamic suspension characteristics, changing the damper velocity at an astonishing rate of once every two seconds. We’d like to see the Model X do that!
A Rival That The Model X Will Truly Fear
It is fair to say that Polestar look to have come up with yet another class automobile in the EV world. The Polestar 3 offers sleeker styling than the Model X and a less cumbersome shape, while also impressing us massively with the technology on offer and the power packages available. The sustainability aspect of the interior is a welcome thing too, as we all need to think about what we use and consume. It looks like Tesla will have a task on their hands to fight off another impressive machine from Polestar.
Source: Polestar