Yahoo Autos Polestar 1 Undergoes Cold-Weather Testing
After its debut last October in Shanghai, then showing off its pretty face last month at the Geneva auto show, the 2020 Polestar 1 underwent cold-weather testing in the Arctic Circle. There it faced icy roads and sub-zero temperatures before heading back to electric-car-happy China for display at the Beijing auto show. This sort of testing is normal, and spy photographers often catch upcoming models in cold-weather venues, but Polestar did one better by bringing its own cameras to the occasion.
Wrapped in black-and-white camouflage, this Polestar 1 prototype was brought to the snow-covered landscape to test the coupe’s dynamic capabilities as well as the abilities of its battery pack and electric motors to perform in the deep freeze. As described in the video below, the team brought 10 different sets of anti-roll bars measuring between 20 and 25 mm, as well as a variety of shocks, springs, and rubber bushings to perfect the plug-in hybrid’s handling capabilities.
Additionally, Polestar used the slick surface to tweak the tuning of the two electric motors that power the rear wheels. The car is claimed to be able to travel 93 miles on a single charge in EV mode, and the Polestar 1’s rear motors can be complemented by a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter inline-four that powers the low-slung coupe’s front wheels. In total, the Polestar 1 promises a combined 600 horsepower from all power sources.
The Polestar 1, a product of Swedish automaker Volvo under its Chinese owner Geely, is slated to reach the U.S. market next year. It will be available only on a subscription basis at dedicated Polestar Spaces. The monthly subscription fee will also cover such costs as service and insurance. Traditional sales are not in the plan.
To avoid the dealership-related backlash that Tesla has encountered with its factory-backed Tesla Stores, the U.S. arm of Polestar will offer current Volvo franchisees the opportunity to invest in a Polestar Space. The first two Polestar Spaces-one on the East Coast, another on the West-are set to open in the middle of 2019; the brand predicts there will eventually be as many as 25 such stores throughout the United States.
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