The Polestar 1 was a curious creation when it came out, and it still remains that way to this day. The notion of a six-figure hybrid halo car with a Volvo inline-four at its heart is a strange proposition no doubt, and its mystery is only enhanced by the fact that it was a limited-production car, leading to it very scarcely being in the public eye.
Now, a year after production ended, Chris Harris gives his thoughts on his long-term Polestar 1 ownership, and he’s a fan. So much so, in fact, that he claims it to be one of the best cars he’s ever owned, and he goes over why in Collecting Cars’ latest video.
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The car, which cost $156,500 new, is chiefly powered by a twincharged 2.0L four-cylinder sending 326 hp (331 / 243 kW) and 384 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque to the front wheels. If that was its only source of propulsion, you’d be right to complain about the price. However, when factoring in its additional integrated starter generator and two electric motors sending power to the rear wheels, those figures rise to an impressive 619 hp (628 PS / 462 kW) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 4.2 seconds on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Not bad for a 5,165 lb (2,343 kg) luxury coupe.
And thanks to the fully adjustable Ohlins suspension, it handles that weight well. It’s wonderfully comfortable in day-to-day driving, yet stable and composed when you want to push it to its limits. Plus, the plug-in hybrid aspect, with 79 miles (127 km) of electric range, adds some sensibility to the already enticing package.
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Beyond the performance, there’s also the matter of this car’s looks. It’s not particularly exciting in the same way a Lamborghini might be, but that’s exactly what makes it so great – it’s strikingly simple. In a world of overstyling, the Polestar‘s design is refreshingly clean and thoughtful, and that becomes even more apparent when seeing one in the metal, speaking from personal experience. Harris put it wonderfully himself, saying that people can’t understand why they want to look at the car, but they just find themselves gravitating towards it.
So, while the Polestar 1 might not be as opulent as a Bentley or as agile as a Porsche in the same price bracket, it’s still got loads to offer, and it’s arguably a more unique pick than either of those options. And to hear Harris’ full in-depth thoughts on the car, we recommend checking out the video above.