Revolutionary Design: 2023 Polestar 4 with No Rear Window!
At Auto Shanghai 2023, Polestar unveiled the 2024 Polestar 4, which is technically classified as an SUV coupé due to its four doors and spaciousness of an SUV, combined with a sleek, sloping roofline and coupé-style aerodynamics.
While the Polestar 4 boasts a range of impressive new features, its most daring design element is the absence of a rear-view mirror. Instead, drivers will utilize screens inside the cabin that display a live feed from a rear camera mounted on the roof, providing real-time footage during reverse driving.
Polestar must be confident in their new design decision as the elimination of the rear window, while providing drivers with a wider field of view than the rear window alone, may also cause anxiety in some drivers. What if the camera is damaged by a rock or the feed glitches and stops working? Without a rear window to rely on, there is no backup in case of technological challenges.
However, the company justifies their decision by stating that it was first tested with the Polestar Precept concept car. According to Maximilian Missoni, head of design at Polestar, the Precept previewed a stunning new occupant experience by pushing the rear header, which plays an integral safety role, further back and removing the rear window. As a result, rear occupants can have a unique experience in the SUV coupé.
In addition, removing the rear window allows for a long glass roof that extends beyond the rear occupants' heads. The glass roof can have electrochromic functionality, or smart glass, which can change from transparent to opaque based on the occupants' needs.
The Polestar 4 will be priced somewhere between the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3, at around $60,000 and will launch first in China, with production planned in November 2023 for a Geely-owned production facility in Hangzhou Bay that runs on renewable energy.
Both long-range versions will feature a 102 kWh battery, and the dual motor has a target range of 350 miles. All versions get up to 200 kW DC and 22 kW AC charging, and bi-directional charging is also included for vehicle-to-load capabilities.
The dual-motor version will have semi-active suspension features so it hits sporty performance without sacrificing comfort. The Polestar 4 will be available in both dual- and single-motor versions.
The low nose gives it the aerodynamics needed to make this the fastest production model Polestar has produced yet. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and has a maximum power output of 544 hp. From the outside, the car has a swiftness to it. The door handles are retractable and the frameless windows are flush with the body of the car.
The car's infotainment system is powered by Android Automotive OS and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, which can be accessed through a 15.4-inch screen up front. Apple CarPlay is included and Google is built-in, including Google Assistant, Maps and Play. There's also a secondary media and climate control screen mounted between the front seats for rear occupants to play around with.
A 10.2-inch driver display is mounted ahead of the steering wheel and shows speed, battery and range information. It can also show you other road users, current driving assistance functions and navigation information. If that's too distracting, there's also head-up display with a 14.7-inch projection area that gives the driver "key vehicle, telephony and navigation information," according to Polestar. When it's snowing, the HUD text color will switch from white to yellow to improve visibility.
Polestar uses Mobileye's SuperVision advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), which relies on 12 cameras, one radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Owners can pay extra for the Pilot Pack, which includes lane change assistance. To ensure that the driver doesn't overly rely on the ADAS or fall asleep at the wheel, the 2024 Polestar 4 includes a driver monitoring camera that monitors the driver's eyes and head movements.
