2021 Polestar 1 Performance

The Polestar 1 is the first model from the brand, but it's also their halo car. Thus it needs an energetic power plant to match its striking looks. While you won't get the performance of the console game version, you do get 619 hp and an astonishing 737 lb-ft of torque from a quartet of motors. A pair of electric motors each produce 116 hp which is sent to the rear wheels, while a third electric source - an integrated starter generator - produces 68 hp and works alongside an internal combustion engine to power the front wheels. This 2.0-liter four-cylinder is both turbocharged and supercharged and produces 326 horses on its own. An eight-speed automatic transmission with paddles for manual shifting handles the power, while torque vectoring helps enhance the ability of the all-wheel-drive system. It's a complex setup, but the results are worthwhile. 0-60 mph is achieved in just 4.2 seconds, while top speed comes at 155 mph - a considerably higher figure than the Volvo S90 T8's limited top speed of 112 mph.

The Volvo-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is both turbocharged and supercharged is present alongside a trio of electric powerplants for a total output of 619 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque. What makes the Polestar 1 impressive is that it manages all this power and torque in a fluid and smooth manner, with great throttle response minus the neck-snapping instant acceleration that pure electric vehicles usually offer. This vehicle treads the line between GT smoothness and sportscar response with impressive grace. It may have a supercar price tag, but it's more about style, sustainability, and balance than being either a dedicated cruiser or drag racer. The eight-speed automatic transmission is as excellent as it is in other Volvo products, making smooth shifts and offering quick responses to manual inputs. The integration between electric and gas power is also seamless, and the only gripe one may have is that when the gas engine is running, the sound isn't particularly charming.

Polestar claims that this vehicle will achieve a figure of 26 mpg on the EPA's combined cycle when using both gas and electric propulsion. With a 15.9-gallon gas tank, this equates to an average range of around 413 miles with mixed driving. On electric and gas power combined, the claim is 58 MPGe, and on electric power alone, a range of between 52 and 64 miles is estimated, thanks to a 34 kWh battery pack.

On a 110V home charger, you can expect to refill the battery in around nine hours, while a 220-240V socket will cut that down to between three-and-a-half and four hours. With DC fast charging, 80% charge can be reached in as little as an hour.