The countdown has begun as Polestar completes the final phase before starting production of its first model.
Polestar 1 is a hybrid, two-door GT style 2+2 sports car that boasts 450kW of power and 1000Nm of torque, with a pure electric driving range of 150km.
Extensive use has been made of carbon fibre to reduce the weight of the car, counteracting the weight of the electric battery pack.
The car and others like it are designed to take the fight up to Tesla, which to date is the only brand that has been able to generate excitement about electric vehicles.
Customers have started the process of confirming their final specification as the Electric Performance Hybrid takes the final steps towards production.
Polestar’s new Production Centre in Chengdu, China, is currently producing tooling try-out cars (TT) which are the final prototype vehicles before pre-production and customer production cars are built.
“It’s great to see how we have progressed from showing the Polestar 1 for the first time in 2017, to now having our beautiful new manufacturing facility up and running with the TT cars being tested in and around the plant,” CEO Thomas Ingenlath said.
The TT prototype series, which includes around 50 cars so far, is used to fine-tune production methods and for evaluation of tooling implementation, ensuring that the manufacturing and assembly processes work as intended, before customer car production begins.
“Now we enable our loyal customers to secure their final specification for their car, knowing that we are going to give them an awesome GT that is built to the highest levels of quality, fit and finish.”
Don’t get too excited, however, because Australia is not one of the 18 countries where the car will be offered initially.
But all is not lost. Polestar has confirmed its second model — you guessed it, Polestar 2 — will arrive here in late 2020 and be available for sale online.
CHECKOUT: Polestar builds a little excitement
CHECKOUT: Polestar hits the ground running