The new Polestar 4 coupe-SUV has… no rear windscreen?

The Polestar range is growing and Volvo’s electric spin-off brand has now unveiled the fourth entry in its lineup at the Shanghai Auto Show. Aptly named the Polestar 4, this all new model comes in the form of an electric coupe-SUV, designed to rival the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6, and particularly, the upcoming Porsche Macan EV.

As you can see from the images, the Polestar 4 rides slightly higher than the smaller Polestar 2. Confusingly, despite its name, the 4 actually sits between that car and the larger Polestar 3 – both in terms of size, and expected price.

Perhaps the Polestar 4’s most distinctive exterior feature – other than its split headlight design – is the fact that it has no rear windshield. Instead, the driver must rely on the array of 24 cameras and sensors scattered around the car, with a screen (mounted in the same place as a traditional rear-view mirror) displaying a live feed of what’s behind.

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On the inside, the Polestar 4 shares much in common with the more traditional Polestar 3 SUV. The dashboard is dominated by a 15.4-inch touchscreen – this time mounted horizontally instead of vertically – running Google-based software. It is complemented by a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster for the driver.

Designed to be sportier than the more spacious Polestar 3, the ’4’ also gets more heavily bolstered sports seats, as well a much higher centre console in order to give a more cockpit-esque feel. Polestar’s commitment to sustainability remains, however, with the cabin dressed in recycled and sustainably-sourced materials. Leather upholstery will be available, alongside a knitted fabric produced using recycled materials by a textile college in Sweden.

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Measuring 4,839mm long, the Polestar 4 is 200mm longer than the Polestar 2 fastback. However, having sat inside both cars, the increase in space is certainly noticeable; there’s plenty of legroom in the 4 and Polestar claims the additional headroom is thanks to the aforementioned lack of a rear windscreen. A 500-litre boot means there should be ample space for luggage, too.

The Polestar 4 uses new electric underpinnings, dubbed SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) from the Lotus Eletre SUV. At launch, two versions of the Polestar 4 will be offered: Long range Single Motor and Long range Dual Motor. As its name suggests, the former utilises a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 268bhp and gets from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds.

If you want your Polestar 4’s performance to match its sporty looks then you’ll want to look at the Dual Motor model with its 537bhp four-wheel-drive layout. From a standstill, 0-62mph takes just 3.8 seconds.

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Both variants of the Polestar 4 come fitted with a 94kWh (usable battery). Polestar claims the Long range Single Motor model is capable of up to 372 miles on the combined WLTP test cycle, with the more-powerful Dual Motor car able to return 350 miles.

The Polestar 4 can make use of DC ultra-rapid charging speeds of up to 200kW; at this rate, Polestar says a 5-80% charge can be completed in just 32 minutes when connected to a compatible public charger.

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So when can we expect this new model to arrive? Well, Polestar tells us that the Polestar 4 is due to go on sale next year, with a previous price estimate of around £55,000. This makes it a chunk more expensive than the equivalent Tesla Model Y – although it’ll likely undercut its impending Porsche rival. 

With four models now revealed and two more – the Polestar 5 saloon and Polestar 6 roadster – on the horizon, the Swedish brand’s lineup will soon span all corners of the electric-car market.