Polestar’s Tesla Model 3 rival will be unwrapped on the 27 February, before heading to the Geneva Motor Show
Volvo’s performance spin-off brand, Polestar, has confirmed that its upcoming Tesla Model 3 rival will be unveiled at midday on 27 February through a live-streamed online event. Called the Polestar 2, the model will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and enter production in 2020.
Polestar has given us a glimpse at the model’s design, sharing a couple of teaser images of its boot-lid and rear flank. Both images hint that the finished product will have a full-length rear light-bar, a small duck-tail spoiler and a boot-lid similar to that of the conventional Volvo S60 and S90 saloons.
• New Polestar 3 electric SUV set for 2022 launch
Volvo’s all-electric performance sub-brand has already revealed the Polestar 1, a sleek 592bhp two-door coupe costing upwards of £130,000. The firm’s second car will be considerably cheaper, being priced to compete with the Tesla Model 3.
Speaking to Auto Express last year, Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s chief executive officer, explained: “Polestar 2 will join the competition with Tesla Model 3, so people should have an understanding of the size and the price tag as well. It will start around €40,000 (£35,000).” Its price range is expected to top out at around £50,000.
The Polestar 2 will be built on Volvo’s new all-electric CMA platform. The brand is targeting a 310-mile range for the Polestar 2 which, along with the upcoming Polestar 3 coupe-SUV, which would give the brand two very competitive models for Tesla’s Model 3 and Model X.
Despite this, Ingenlath was keen to play down any plans to usurp Tesla. “We are not saying it’s a Tesla killer, we are here to vividly compete with them in the market. We will launch Polestar 2 in the second half of 2019 and production will begin around the start of 2020”.
The Polestar 2 is expected to set a design theme for future models, too. Speaking at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Polestar’s chief operating officer Jonathan Goodman acknowledged that the Polestar 1 uses similar design themes to current Volvo models, before indicating that the “2” would establish Polestar’s own look.
Polestar will also underline its difference from Volvo in the way customers access its cars; drivers can either buy the cars outright or borrow them from one of Polestar’s 80 planned “Polestar Spaces” in town centres and shopping hubs.
Let us know your thoughts on the Polestar 2 and Polestar’s future plans in the comments section below…
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