Photo: Polestar
Polestar names its vehicles chronologically, unlike other carmakers that follow a model-specific naming strategy. This is why it makes sense that the successor to the Polestar 2 will bear a different name. According to the company's CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, it will arrive in 2027 after the Polestar 6 supercar, thus being named Polestar 7.
In the early days, most car models were named based on their engine capacity, especially in Europe. However, a new differentiator was needed as engines were shared among several models. Model names became more popular. In many cases, they were still numbers, although the numbers now designated a vehicle class. Think the BMW 5 Series replacing the BMW 2000 of the New Class Sedan or the Audi A4 replacing the Audi 80.
In these cases, replacing a model with a new generation would not normally bring a name change. The BMW 5 Series and the Audi A4 still exist today and will probably be with us for a long time. However, some carmakers want to be different. Polestar is perhaps the best example, not just because of the cool Scandinavian design. Polestar decided to name its models almost randomly or, rather, chronologically.
This means that the model names don't designate a class of models or body styles. Instead, they mark the time of launch. The Polestar 1 was named like that because it was the brand's first model. There will never be another Polestar 1 because of that, and the same will be true for the Polestar 2 when it will be retired around 2027.
The information was unveiled by Polestar's CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, in a discussion with Autocar. The company will not replace the Polestar 2 with another Polestar 2 but with the Polestar 7. This means that the chronological model naming strategy will continue beyond the launch of the Polestar 6 sportscar in 2026.
Ingenlath didn't offer details about the Polestar 7 other than confirming that it would be a direct replacement for the Polestar 2, occupying a similar position in the lineup. Polestar CEO believes that launching generation after generation of the same model can impose limitations and stifle innovation. For this reason alone, Polestar can stray further from the Polestar 2 recipe with its successor.
"As much as we might build a very similar car, because it has a different number, we won't have this natural trap where we're boxed into that concept of what the car had been," said Ingenlath. He gave the example of the Volkswagen Golf, which remained almost unchanged after eight generations. "At some point, you get into a strange situation when you're in double-digit generations, and it gets really questionable," Ingenlath added.
The Polestar 7 is already expected to significantly depart from the Polestar 2 recipe. After Volvo withdrew support for the company, the Polestar 7 is expected to abandon the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). Instead, it will be built on another EV-dedicated platform from the Geely group. The prime candidate is the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which also underpins the Polestar 4.
In these cases, replacing a model with a new generation would not normally bring a name change. The BMW 5 Series and the Audi A4 still exist today and will probably be with us for a long time. However, some carmakers want to be different. Polestar is perhaps the best example, not just because of the cool Scandinavian design. Polestar decided to name its models almost randomly or, rather, chronologically.
This means that the model names don't designate a class of models or body styles. Instead, they mark the time of launch. The Polestar 1 was named like that because it was the brand's first model. There will never be another Polestar 1 because of that, and the same will be true for the Polestar 2 when it will be retired around 2027.
The information was unveiled by Polestar's CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, in a discussion with Autocar. The company will not replace the Polestar 2 with another Polestar 2 but with the Polestar 7. This means that the chronological model naming strategy will continue beyond the launch of the Polestar 6 sportscar in 2026.
Ingenlath didn't offer details about the Polestar 7 other than confirming that it would be a direct replacement for the Polestar 2, occupying a similar position in the lineup. Polestar CEO believes that launching generation after generation of the same model can impose limitations and stifle innovation. For this reason alone, Polestar can stray further from the Polestar 2 recipe with its successor.
"As much as we might build a very similar car, because it has a different number, we won't have this natural trap where we're boxed into that concept of what the car had been," said Ingenlath. He gave the example of the Volkswagen Golf, which remained almost unchanged after eight generations. "At some point, you get into a strange situation when you're in double-digit generations, and it gets really questionable," Ingenlath added.
The Polestar 7 is already expected to significantly depart from the Polestar 2 recipe. After Volvo withdrew support for the company, the Polestar 7 is expected to abandon the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). Instead, it will be built on another EV-dedicated platform from the Geely group. The prime candidate is the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), which also underpins the Polestar 4.
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