If you’re looking for an automaker that has mastered car design and has its ethics in order, look no further than Polestar. The brand is Volvo’s electric performance arm, and recently they have been making some fascinating cars and concepts. Their latest creation is the Polestar O2 Concept which they claim is a hardtop convertible roadster. If you are pedantic about nomenclatures, the O2 being a 2+2 doesn't necessarily qualify to be a roadster. But you will forget all about it the moment you lay eyes on it. Step aside Tesla, there is a new non-existent roadster in town.
The Polestar O2 And Its Jaw-Dropping Looks
The O2 is based on a bonded aluminum chassis that was used for the Polestar Precept concept. The front and back aesthetics of the O2, as well as the interior dashboard design, are largely influenced by the all-electric four-door coupe concept. The car's front end isn't particularly long, but it sweeps aggressively down to the front, just like a modern supercar. The O2 also features aerodynamic elements that help reduce drag to maximize range. These elements include integrated ducts that improve laminar airflow over the wheels and body sides. The rear lights have been designed to function as air blades to reduce turbulence behind the car.
Polestar knows that a good “Roadster” also needs to be a great driver’s car. The automaker promises that it will handle great offering rigid body control and intuitive dynamics. Polestar says that the driving experience of the O2 is "lively, light and full of confidence,". The car will be set with a balance of being predictable, but playful for spirited driving. It will be set up to have small roll angles and high roll damping, with an agile steering system that is direct and linear. The overall package undoubtedly seems extraordinary, but of course, there is more.
Interior Of The Polestar O2 Is Designed To Be Sustainable
The O2 is a 2+2 convertible concept model that features a metal folding roof. The car features an interior designed with generous use of sustainable materials. The concept also draws inspiration from the Precept, with a new thermoplastic mono-material to line the cabin. It is blended in with other materials like recycled polyester that can be found on all soft-touch parts of the interior. The intelligent design of it all allows the interior to be easily recycled while reducing weight and waste.
The coolest feature is the inclusion of an autonomous cinematic drone. The drone is placed behind the rear seats, and it can be deployed when the car is on the move. The drone will follow the car up to 56 miles per hour. When parked, the user can then edit the footage in the car and then share it through the massive 15-inch center display. The drone might be the most interesting feature of the concept, but it is highly unlikely that it will ever make production.
Polestar O2 Concept On Pole Position
For quite some time, a new Tesla Roadster is said to be in the works, promising amazing performance and a long-range for an electric vehicle. The Roadster concept looked and sounded great. But as time passed, so did EV technologies and the numbers promised have now been largely achieved by other cars, some from Tesla themselves. The novelty of the impending Tesla Roadster seems to be fading.
Polestar, Volvo’s sister brand knows that performance figures sound great on paper, but 0-60 times and top speed numbers are largely irrelevant in the real world. So they focused precisely on the things that genuinely matter for modern customers — jaw-dropping looks, and a car that is kinder to the environment. That is exactly what the brand-new Polestar O2 Concept previews. But the one thing Tesla Roadster and the O2 have in common is that neither of them exists as production cars.
The Future Of The Polestar O2 Concept
It may not come as a big surprise, but Polestar has no plans to put the O2 Concept into production at the moment. But with the concept, they are on a mission to redefine sports roadsters of the electrified era of the automobile. The O2 is essentially a flex of how Polestar’s next-generation design language can evolve and adapt to different body styles while remaining true to the family resemblance.
While Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO proclaims the O2 as “the hero car for our brand,” it is merely a design flex of what they can do when they get creative. That is quite a shame. However, there is a reason to smile. Polestar is working on introducing three new models by 2025. It includes the Polestar 5, a production-ready version of the Precept Concept four-door coupe, which we can't wait to see.