Unveiled in February 2020, the Precept concept is a low-slung electric grand tourer with no B pillars. Fitted with LIDAR sensors in the roof, the high-performance sedan is the blueprint for Polestar's upcoming 5. A prototype raced up the Goodwood Hill during the 2022 edition of the Festival of Speed, and the 5 will return to Goodwood this year for another run.
It will be joined by the O2 concept, which is best described as the roadster-bodied sibling of the Precept. A two-door convertible with 4+4 seating, the upcoming 6 is rightfully described as the heir apparent to the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid super grand tourer. Even though it's out of production, the 1 still offers the highest electric range of any plug-in hybrid production car at 124 kilometers (77 miles) under WLTP.
The O2 is coming to Goodwood as well, and that's not all. The recently updated 2 has been confirmed as well, along with a special edition of the 2 and the crossover-bodied 3. The only absentee is the new 4, which is very different from the 3.
As a brief refresher, the 2 is a compact liftback available with either a single front-mounted electric motor or a dual-motor setup. The 3 uses the SPA2 platform of the Volvo EX90, whereas the 4 employs the SEA platform of the 5 and 6.
Still bankrolled by Volvo and Chinese automaker Geely, the peeps at Polestar are slowly but steadily building a successful electric vehicle brand. The 2 is their bread and butter, with the Model 3-rivaling sedan currently available to configure in the UK from £44,950 and the US from $49,900. A tad more expensive than its arch nemesis from Tesla, the 2 has proven a commercial success. Including a few units of the 1, sales totaled 51,491 units in 2022, up from just 22,814 in 2021.
Special editions like the BST 230 aim to bring more customers to the Sino-Swedish marque, but more importantly, Polestar knocked it out of the park with the 2's many updates for the 2024 model year. New motors, rear-wheel drive for single-motor cars, faster charging, and more capacity for the long-range battery are the highlights. Capable of up to 635 kilometers (395 miles) under WLTP, the revised 2 produces 350 kW (469 hp) with the optional Performance Pack.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a most appropriate venue for showcasing a sporty brand's lineup, especially if you remember that the United Kingdom's take-up rate for EVs is getting stronger with each passing quarter. Electric vehicles enjoyed a record share of the market in 2022, accounting for 16.6 percent of new vehicle registrations. In other words, EVs overtook diesel vehicles for the first time ever in the UK.
The 2, new SUVs, and hi-po vehicles are certain to help Polestar improve sales in the UK and beyond.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News