Volvo's Polestar Unveils First Electric Model

A smaller Polestar 2 will emerge later in 2019 to duke it out with Tesla's Model 3 and will be the first fully electric vehicle launched by the Volvo auto Group.

Animated by a mechanical four-cylinder engine borrowed from Volvo, the Polestar 1 also uses two electric motors, which, by themselves, to develop 218 horsepower and allow a range of 150 kilometers.

Combined, the petrol and electric motors produce 592bhp and 1000Nm of torque, while the hybrid GT vehicle can travel further than 90 miles on electric power alone. The electric vehicle supported by an internal combustion engine claims a range of 150kilometres on pure electric power. Helping it stand out even further from the Volvo products, the Polestar 1 features a ton of world-class performance-enhancing technology.

Its manufacturers are planning to sell the vehicle under an innovative new "subscription" payment method, where a two to three year monthly payment gives the customer not only the use of the auto but various maintenance and insurance services. The zero-deposit, all-inclusive subscription includes a pick-up and delivery service. But now Polestar, the Swedish auto maker's new division that will make electric cars, has revealed its first model - an electrically powered rival to the Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type.

Despite the Polestar 1 not arriving until 2019, Polestar are taking orders from today.

To that end the 1 is also the first vehicle to ever be equipped with Ohlins' new Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension.

Pre-orders for the plug-in hybrid performance auto begin today, October 17. At 177.2 inches overall, the Polestar 1 is nearly six inches shorter than a BMW 4-series coupe. The 90-year-old automaker described its announcement as "one of the most significant moves by any vehicle maker". The Polestar 1 will be the flagship of the new range, and is expected to be the only model that will be built as a hybrid.

Polestar announced its cars will be only available online and offered on a two- or three-year subscription basis. The 2 is said to start production in late 2019 and take the fight directly to the Tesla Model 3 - meaning it would be an all-electric mid-sized sedan. It will form a halo for the future Polestar brand with market launch scheduled in 2019. Additionally, Polestar 1 uses a double electric rear axle which enables torque vectoring.

Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath noted Tuesday that all future cars from Polestar will be fully electric.

The ordering and configuration of Polestar cars will be conducted online via a Polestar app or online portal and will be backed up by a network of "Polestar Spaces" around the world where the vehicle can be seen in the metal.