The Polestar 3 electric SUV is a new EV SUV. As indicated by its model name, it’s the third entry in Polestar’s slowly expanding lineup. The latter will include a large flagship sedan based on the Precept concept, however, the production model will be called the Polestar 5. The 3 will also be the first Polestar built in America, joining the S60 sedan and next-gen XC90 SUV at Volvo’s new plant in South Carolina.
In June 2021, Polestar released the first teaser of its electric SUV, the Polestar 3. The company also announced that it will build the vehicle in the United States. Take a look at what we know so far about Polestar’s next big launch.
Polestar 3 electric SUV
The Polestar 3 is a mid-size electric SUV twinned with Volvo’s upcoming electric successor to the XC90 (which may be called an Embla), and both are set to be built at Volvo’s plant in Charleston, South Carolina, where the Volvo S60 is currently built. Production will also be handled in China for that market.
Production is due to start in early 2023, which means we’ll likely see the vehicles arrive as 2023 models. Underpinning them is thought to be a version of Volvo’s SPA2 platform developed from the onset for electric vehicles but capable of supporting hybrid powertrains.
The two SUVs will have distinct styling, with the Polestar 3’s design clearly influenced by Polestar’s recent Precept concept (shown in video) whereas the XC90 successor will more closely resemble Volvo’s Recharge concept. The Volvo is also expected to sport a flatter roof compared to the curved roof of the Polestar 3.
Both vehicles will offer a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system and enough battery capacity for over 300 miles of range, in addition to built-in lidar for a planned self-driving system for highways. The Polestar 3 will be further differentiated from its Volvo sibling by a greater emphasis on performance.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Specifications
| Specifications | Polestar 3 Long Range | Polestar 3 Performance |
| Power | 489 PS (482 hp) | 840 Nm (620 lb.-ft.) |
| Motors | 2 | 2 |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD |
| Torque | 519 PS (512 hp) | 910 Nm (671 lb.-ft.) |
| 0-100 km/h | 5 seconds | 4.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h (130 mph) | 210 km/h (130 mph) |
| Battery Pack | 111 kWh | 111 kWh |
| Range | 610 km (379 miles) | 560 km (348 miles) |
| Length | 4.9 m (192.9 Inch) | 4.9 m (192.9 Inch) |
| Width | 1.97 m (77.6 Inch) | 1.97 m (77.6 Inch) |
| Wheelbase | 2.99 m (117.7 Inch) | 2.99 m (117.7 Inch) |
| Wheel Size | 21 Inch | 21 Inch |
| Cargo | 484 liters (17.1 cu. ft.) | 1,411 liters (49.8 cu. ft.) |
Polestar 3 electric SUV Platform
The Polestar 3 will share its platform and battery with the XC90’s upcoming electric sibling (Volvo Embla). It’d be the SPA2 platform – A skateboard chassis with a different floor assembly.
Gleaning from the Volvo Recharge Concept announcement, the new platform that will underpin the Polestar 3 allows a flat floor that would improve cabin space. Expect a generous wheelbase, larger wheels, short overhangs, and a larger storage area between the front seats than an equivalent combustion engine SUV. This platform allows positioning the seats in such a way that the driver can have a high eyepoint despite the lower height of the vehicle. In other words, the occupants would sit higher in what’s a slightly low-slung design.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Dimesions
Dutch website AutoWeek has gotten a hold of Polestar 3’s specifications and other details. It says that the new electric SUV is 4.9 m (192.9 in.) long and 1.97 m (77.6 in.) wide and has a 2.99 m (117.7 in.)-long wheelbase. It offers 484 liters (17.1 cu. ft.) of cargo volume, expandable to 1,411 liters (49.8 cu. ft.) on folding down the rear seats.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Performance
The Polestar 3 will reportedly be available in Long Range and Performance variants, both powered by two electric motors. The Long Range variant’s motors produce 489 PS (482 hp) and 840 Nm (620 lb.-ft.) of torque, while the Performance variant’s motors generate 519 PS (512 hp) and 910 Nm (671 lb.-ft.) of torque. The Long Range variant can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5 seconds, while the Performance can do the same in 4.7 seconds. The top speed is the same, though – 210 km/h (130 mph).
Similar to the Lotus Eletre, the Polestar 3 looks like an enthusiast-oriented model developed with a strong focus on performance. It is an SUV that’s “very aerodynamic and very engaging to drive,” Ingenlath said at the Automotive News Europe Congress on July 14, 2022, Automotive News Europe reported the same day. “It’s not a car to drive to the kindergarten,” he added.
According to Polestar chief designer Max Missoni, the 3 will have different driving characteristics than the next-gen XC90’s electric sibling, which was previewed by the Volvo Concept Recharge. While the Polestar electric car will focus on sportier handling, the Volvo SUV is likely to prioritize comfort.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Range
The Polestar has confirmed that it is targeting a WLTP range of more than 600 km (373 miles) for its next three launches, including the Polestar 3. In that case, expect the ‘Luxury Aero SUV’ to deliver an EPA-est. range of up to around 300 miles.
Polestar has reportedly used a 111 kWh battery pack in the Polestar 3. The Long Range variant delivers a WLTP range of 610 km (379 miles), while the Performance variant can travel up to 560 km (348 miles) on a full charge as per the same, WLTP standard.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Charging
The 111 kWh battery pack will likely have an operating voltage of around 800 volts. A multi high-speed charging system will allow switching between 800 volts and 400 volts. Using an 800-volt charger, it will take approximately 20 minutes to charge the battery to 80% SoC.
Bi-directional/vehicle-to-grid compatibility will be available in next-gen Polestar EVs featuring the company’s state-of-the-art battery technology. Hence, the 3 would allow powering home appliances, charging electronics, and topping up other EVs using the energy stored in its battery pack. According to Green Car Reports, the power output for bi-directional charging would be set at 20 kW. Ultra-fast charging to 80% may take just about 20 minutes.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Production
Polestar plans to manufacture the Polestar 3 alongside Volvo models at Volvo Cars’ first U.S. plant in Ridgeville, Berkeley County, South Carolina, from the end of 2022. Currently, the third-gen Volvo S60 rolls out of this facility. The first Polestar SUV will hit the production line in the U.S. at the beginning of 2024, Thomas Ingenlath, the company’s CEO, confirmed on CNBC‘s Squawk Box on June 24, 2022. Volvo Cars is a large shareholder in Polestar, and so, the latter benefits from its technologies, and the financial and industrial synergies.
The Polestar 3’s production will take place in China as well, at the company’s Chengdu plant, as local production can allow pricing the EV attractively and making regional adaptations. Autocar has reported that the European units of the 3 will come from the Chinese plant, not the American Volvo Cars factory. The Chengdu plant has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units, and Volvo Cars operates it. It will start making the Polestar 3 in early 2023.
At present, Polestar makes electric cars in two plants in China, for the local market as well as for exports; the niche hybrid-electric Polestar 1 is made in Chengdu whereas the Polestar 2 electric crossover is made in Luqiao.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Design
The Polestar 3 electric SUV will be about drivability, design, and “offering something different,” Polestar’s chief operating officer, Jonathan Goodman had told Carbuyer.co.uk.
Polestar 1 was derived from the Volvo Concept Coupe (presented in 2013), and it was originally a Volvo design. The Polestar 2 has more than a few design lines common with the Volvo 40.2 Concept (presented in 2016). With the launch of the Polestar 3, the brand would start distancing itself in design and “drive that separation further and further,” Ingenlath told Fast Company in May 2021.
Front Design of Polestar 3 electric SUV
As for the Polestar 3’s styling, Missoni had confirmed that it would be inspired by the Precept concept shown at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show. The Polestar 3 will be a sporty SUV with a sleek silhouette. It will feature a hexagonal compact upper grille, horizontally flipped T-shaped headlamps, a trapezoidal lower grille, and triangular cut-outs in the outer sections of the bumper that could hide the vehicle’s LiDAR sensors. A leaked patent image, which you can see on Burlappcar, suggests that Polestar will offer a front trunk or a ‘frunk’ in the 3.
Side Design of Polestar 3 electric SUV
The car has a sharp kick in the beltline and a slim greenhouse, giving it a dynamic look. The roofline slopes slightly towards the rear, which should preserve the headroom. Flush door handles lend the SUV a touch of minimalism. A strong shoulder area, thick body cladding, four-double-spoke wheels in a two-tone finish, and yellow brake calipers are among the visual highlights revealed by the new official image.
Rear Design of Polestar 3 electric SUV
The Polestar 3 has a wide and powerful stance at the rear. It doesn’t lean forward, which gives it a confident appearance from this angle. The chunky tail light stretches across the width and ends with wide C-shapes, accentuating these attributes.
The Polestar 3 could have been a three-row SUV, but it had good reasons not to be. Ingenlath told Autocar that choosing a two-row seating layout allows a more aerodynamic roofline. There’s also the additional and crucial advantage of making the passenger experience comfortable and luxurious. Moreover, the brand needs to differentiate significantly from the comparable Volvo SUV (production Volvo Concept Recharge). Polestar is focusing on luxury and sportiness than family-hauling capability.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Interior
A key difference between the production Volvo Concept Recharge and the Polestar sport utility vehicle will be the seating capacity. Where the family-friendly Volvo model will continue to offer up to 7 seats, the Polestar 3 will be a strict five-seater.
In March 2021, Volvo had released the C40 Recharge electric SUV coupe as its first model with a leather-free interior. Now, Polestar, Volvo Car Group’s second passenger car brand, is also likely to offer an EV completely free of leather. In an interview with Forbes in February 2021, Ingenlath was asked how much of the Precept’s “inventive thinking” would trickle into the Polestar 3. In response, he said that market and regional Polestar officials finally understand the values of investing in new design and technology.
Further ahead, Ingenlath said that the natural fiber material it had worked on with Bcomp for the Precept concept’s seats “is now going into production.” So far, no other Polestar model has offered a leather-free interior, neither the 1 coupe nor the 2 sedan-style hatchback.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Features
It is safe to assume that the Polestar 3 will be equipped with plenty of technology, comfort, and convenience features, many possibly shared with Polestar 2. A lot of focus should be on connected car solutions and on-board entertainment.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Long Range will come with air suspension, Bowers & Wilkins audio system, 21-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, panoramic glass roof, soft-close doors, 9-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a three-zone automatic climate control system as standard. As for the Polestar 3 Performance, 22-inch wheels, ventilated seats with Nappa leather upholstery, gold seat belts, and black interior trim will be among the interior highlights.
Digital Key & Video streaming app
Polestar Digital Key, currently in the beta stage, works with a total of 18 Bluetooth sensors in and around the car in the case of the Polestar 2. The video streaming app, which is also currently in the beta stage, lets the user stream content directly to the vehicle’s center display while the vehicle is parked or charging. Development of both features should be completed by the time the Polestar 3 goes on sale. The Polestar 2 has a 13-speaker, 600-watt Harman Kardon sound system, including two subwoofers, and so, the Polestar 3 would also offer a rich audio experience.
Autonomous Driving
The Polestar 3’s main attractions will include hands-free, autonomous driving with ‘Highway Pilot.’ SAE Level 3 could be the targeted level of autonomy in this model’s case, achievable with a software upgrade later during the lifecycle. Polestar has told investors that the 3 will gain “unsupervised highway pilot” at some point during its lifecycle. Zenseact will provide the software for the 3’s Highway Pilot.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV’s automated driving system hardware could be technically related to that of the Volvo Embla. NVIDIA DRIVE Orin SoC will power the autonomous driving computer, and a LiDAR sensor developed by Luminar will be standard.
Android-powered AVN
The Polestar 3 will feature an infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS. Using onboard functions via the vehicle’s center screen would be very easy and familiar for customers, especially those accustomed to Android devices like smartphones, tablets, and TVs. Customers can download apps via the Google Play Store and use everyday apps like Google Maps, Spotify, Audible, and Google Podcasts on the go directly in the infotainment system. With Google Assistant, users can enjoy voice commands with the familiar prompt phrase “Hey Google.”
Polestar 3 electric SUV Price
Speaking at the 2022 Automotive News Europe Congress in July 2022, Ingenlath revealed that Polestar 3 prices will start at around EUR 75,000 (approx. USD 76,000), presumably in Germany. However, as stated in the ‘Manufacturing’ section, European markets will get the Polestar 3 from China, not the U.S. Based on the USD-EUR exchange rate parity, Automotive News Europe reported the same day that American customers will pay the same.
In an interview with InsideEVs in April 2022, Hembrough said that the Porsche Cayenne will be one of the competitors of the Polestar 3. For reference, the Cayenne costs between USD 72,200 (SUV)/USD 80,700 (Coupe) and USD 171,300 (SUV)/USD 188,700 (Coupe). The Tesla Model X (USD 120,990 onwards) has a strong presence in that segment, but Polestar could quickly popularize the 3 by pricing it competitively, from around USD 75,000. In addition to the flagship Tesla, the BMW iX, which costs USD 84,100 onwards, and the upcoming Mercedes EQE SUV will be its competitors.
Polestar 3 electric SUV Release Date
In a press release issued on May 19, 2022, Polestar confirmed it will unveil the Polestar 3 in October 2022. The company said that it expects to start taking orders the same day as the world premiere. That means the company could start its series production by the end of 2022. Ingenlath said that the upcoming electric SUV made in the U.S. and China will stand out amongst other SUVs and bring a lot of growth to push the company into its next phase.
An Automotive News report dated March 7, 2022, states that
the Polestar 3 will enter the American market in Q1 2023. In the interim period, Polestar would build the required sales network, by bringing a new large retail format to the U.S. in the summer of this year. Ingenlath told Automotive News Europe that the Polestar 3 will be the brand’s ‘Goldilocks’ model, blending in the right combination of volume and margin. He also added that the upcoming electric SUV will be the perfect ‘hero car’ for the brand.
Polestar to launch 3 new Evs
The Polestar 3 will be part of a trio of new EVs from the Swedish brand. After the Polestar 3, the Polestar 4 should arrive by late 2023, followed by the Polestar 5 in 2024. By 2030, Polestar wants to create the first truly climate-neutral car, and the company will develop this model under the Polestar 0 Project.
It aims to reduce CO2 emissions by transforming the manufacturing process
such that there are zero emissions right from the production stage.
Swedish musician to create a soundscape for Polestar
On March 8, 2022, Polestar announced a collaboration with Lisa Nordstrom,
a Swedish composer, musician, and artist, to develop unique sounds for Polestar retail outlets to enhance customers’ brand experience. Polestar believes that a multi-sensory approach is essential to attract car buyers. The exclusively curated soundtrack would reflect the brand’s minimalist design values.
The nine-hour audio is sectioned into four tracks; morning, mid-day, afternoon, and evening. The soundtracks are available across 50 different streaming platforms and can also be streamed in the Polestar 2 EV.
What is the Polestar 3 release date?
Following its reveal in October 2022, the Polestar 3 will launch in the U.S. in early 2023.
Which SUVs would the Polestar 3 rival?
The Polestar 3 is expected to be priced to compete with the BMW iX, Mercedes EQE SUV, Audi Q6 e-tron, Porsche Macan EV & Tesla Model X.
What is the expected Polestar 3 price?
The Polestar SUV is likely to cost around USD 75,000 onwards in the United States.
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