Polestar Is Targeting Porsche 911 With Production Sports Car

Aug. 30, 2022 7:43 AM ET by Chase Bierenkoven Electric Vehicles / 13 Comments

Polestar's CEO is making some seriously bold claims.

Earlier this month, Volvo subsidiary, Polestar revealed that it would take the stunning O₂ concept and turn it into the road-legal Polestar 6. We've been eagerly awaiting such an announcement, but there's more to look forward to than just sleek styling.

The Polestar 6 will become more than just the obvious sixth model in the brand's lineup. It'll use the brand's in-house blend of 800-volt EV architecture and dual-motor powertrains producing 872 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. Now, we're learning that the 872-hp option won't be the only spicy powertrain option for the upcoming roadster.

While the high-power version is estimated to cost roughly $200,000, or more if you get the 500-unit, almost-sold-out LA Editon to commemorate the car's launch, the brand's CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, says there are more options. Ingenlath told Top Gear, "This car is part of the factory setup, it is definitely something that we rather think of producing not hundreds of cars per year, but thousands [...] and therefore, it will have a range with different drivetrains, and that is all to come in the next three years." This contrasts the brand's previous halo model, the Polestar 1, which was built for only three model years with 500 units per year produced.

The Swedish automaker is clearly not wasting any time in mounting an assault on the EV industry.

The various options will attract various buyers by virtue of a pricing hierarchy, and while Ingenlath did not specifically state what powertrain and motor configurations would be available, it stands to reason that a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive Polestar 6 will be a more affordable option.

But don't confuse 'more affordable' with 'downmarket.' This will still be a halo car, and one Ingenlath directly compares to the Porsche 911. "We created this bonded [aluminum] platform which is in the premium segment at the very top. Here we are competing with the Porsche 911 and that type of car," he said.

The brand refuses to compromise on its intended upmarket appeal, ruling out a more affordable sports car image. "Look at the horsepower you're getting, what momentum... I mean, why should we give away the car for free?" said Ingenlath. He claims that the asking price of the 6 is "a very realistic price for a roadster with that [spec] sheet" and that building something cheaper would require simpler technology - something the architecture and chassis of the 6 are not.

Everything about the Polestar 6 will be upmarket, right down to its soundtrack, which is a key focal point for the vehicle's development. "... there has to be some audible feedback on you accelerating and pushing the power," he says. "We are actually working on that with our electric engines, really tuning the sound in order to give you that feedback."

It will still be refined, however, and Ingenlath says that by reducing the volume, "you hear things that you didn't hear before."

Targeting the 911 is a tough task; it's the sports car benchmark for a reason. Good luck, Polestar. You'll need it.