2024 Polestar 3: What We Know So Far
The electric 3 is an SUV that illustrates Polestar's new identity.
Capital One
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Polestar’s days of living in Volvo’s shadow are over. After developing their first two models off of platforms borrowed from Volvo, Polestar is ready to leave the nest thanks to a new SUV called the 3 that is based on its own platform. The electric five-seater inaugurates technology features and a design language that will trickle down to future cars, helping establish Polestar in a fast-growing segment of the EV market.
Polestar
2024 Polestar 3 Range and Charging
Since the Polestar 1, the company has shifted its focus from plug-in hybrids to EVs, so the 3 is not available with a gasoline-burning engine. The only drivetrain consists of two motors that draw electricity from a 111-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The motors zap the four wheels with 489 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque, but the optional Performance Pack priced at $6,000 boosts those figures to 517 and 671, respectively. Hitting 60 mph from a stop takes 4.9 seconds with the standard drivetrain, and 4.6 seconds with the Performance Pack. Top speed is limited to 130 mph.
The EPA is yet to certify the 3, but Polestar expects the SUV will earn a driving range of around 300 miles with the standard drivetrain and about 270 miles with the Performance Pack. Plugging the 3 into a 250-kWh fast charger powers the battery pack from 10% to 80% in around half an hour.
Polestar
2024 Polestar 3 Technology
Polestar replaced the vast majority of the buttons and switches normally found on the dashboard with a portrait-oriented, 14.5-inch touchscreen that runs the Android Automotive operating system. The company promises “immersive in-vehicle experiences,” though additional details remain under wraps.
Five radar modules, five external cameras, and 12 external ultrasonic sensors power the 3’s suite of electronic driving aids. Adaptive cruise control, a forward collision warning system, and lane-keeping assist come standard, and the Pilot Pack that bundles Pilot Assist, Park Assist Pilot, and a head-up display is included during the first model year of production. Nvidia’s Drive platform powers these features.
In addition to monitoring the road ahead, the 3’s technology keeps a close eye on the driver. The Drive platform also runs a pair of closed-loop cameras that rely on eye-tracking technology to detect if the driver is drowsy, distracted, or disconnected. The system issues warnings if it senses the driver is focused on something other than driving, and it brings the car to an emergency stop if needed.
Polestar
2024 Polestar 3 Price and Availability
When it enters production in 2023, the Polestar 3 will carry a base price of about $85,000, including destination charges. The firm has started taking reservations, and deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of 2023, with the first units hailing from a factory in Chengdu, China. Polestar expects to start producing the 3 in the Volvo-operated Ridgeville, South Carolina plant by mid 2024.
