2023 Polestar 4: A Carbon-Efficient Marvel

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【Summary】Polestar has unveiled its new 4 SUV-coupé, which the company claims to be its lowest-carbon car. With a carbon footprint of 19.4 tonnes, including production, the electric vehicle will enter the premium crossover market and compete with the Porsche Macan. The car is produced at a factory that uses renewable energy sources and employs emission-reducing techniques. The 4 will be priced between £50,000 and £65,000 and is set to be released next year as one of Polestar's bespoke offerings.

FutureCar Staff Nov 01, 2023 6:15 AM PT

2023 Polestar 4: A Carbon-Efficient Marvel

Polestar has unveiled its new 4 SUV-coupé at the Shanghai motor show, positioning it as the company's lowest-carbon car. Described as the "reinvention of the SUV coupé," the 4 will enter the premium crossover segment as a pure-electric vehicle, directly competing with the Porsche Macan. This will be Polestar's fourth model, and it is said to have the smallest carbon footprint of any Polestar vehicle so far.

The 4 underwent a life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine its environmental impact, including production. The assessment revealed that the car produces 19.4 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime. Polestar has been publishing LCAs for all its cars since 2020, as part of its commitment to transparency and sustainability.

Production of the 4 takes place at Geely's SEA factory in Hangzhou Bay, which utilizes solar and hydroelectric power. The factory also employs production techniques aimed at reducing emissions, such as using low-carbon aluminum for smelting.

Polestar's head of sustainability, Fredrika Klarén, explained that the company sets carbon budgets for all its cars to support its net zero goal. The carbon budget for the Polestar 4 influenced various aspects of its development, including material choices and factory energy sources. Sharing the LCA results allows Polestar to demonstrate its commitment to striving for net zero emissions.

Polestar has published individual CO2 figures for each specification of the 4. The entry-level standard-range car produces 19.4 tonnes of CO2, the long-range car produces 19.9 tonnes, and the top-rung dual-motor car produces 21.4 tonnes. This makes the Polestar 4 more carbon efficient than a Volkswagen ID 3.

The Polestar 4 will join the Polestar 3 SUV as one of the company's bespoke offerings. Unlike the first two models, the 1 and 2, which were based on Volvo designs, the 3 and 4 have been developed as unique Polestar models. Both the Polestar 3 and 4 are premium electric vehicles aimed at competing with brands like Porsche, BMW, and Genesis. The price of the Polestar 4 will range between £50,000 and £65,000, depending on the chosen powertrain.