The Polestar 3 Electric SUV is Unveiled

• The Polestar 3 is built on the same platform as the upcoming Volvo EX90.

• This model is the first SUV from Polestar and it integrates a number of new technologies for the brand.

• Prices start at $97,400 in Canada and deliveries are expected in the last quarter of 2023.

The Polestar 3 is the brand’s first SUV and a new luxury EV that will arrive on the Canadian market towards the end of 2023.

The Swedish automaker has been teasing its upcoming models for a long time but it has now officially unveiled one of them.

Due to the relationship between Polestar and Volvo, it isn’t surprising that this model shares its platform and many of its technologies with the upcoming Volvo EX90.

According to Polestar, this model will introduce a number of new tech features that will later be found with other Polestar and Volvo models, such as the NVIDIA DRIVE core computer which processes all of the information gathered by the vehicle’s sensors.

Since the company is aiming to make its vehicles entirely autonomous in the future, the Polestar 3 is equipped with five radar modules, five cameras, and twelve ultrasonic sensors that are used by the various active safety systems.

The Pilot Pack currently uses the same sensors to operate the Pilot Assist driver assistance system, but it will gain a LiDAR developed by Luminar, three cameras, and four ultrasonic sensors starting in the second half of 2023 in order to prepare the vehicle for fully autonomous driving.

This is in addition to the driver monitoring cameras that can bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver in unresponsive or the new occupant detection radar system that can sense very small movements inside when the vehicle is locked to prevent children or pets from being forgotten in the vehicle. According to Polestar, this system is linked to the climate control system to prevent heatstroke or hypothermia if someone is inadvertently left inside.

In terms of mechanical elements, the Polestar 3 is the first vehicle to use the new electric vehicle platform developed by Volvo, which means that it will be powered by two motors and a 111-kWh battery.

This should allow the crossover to drive for an estimated 300 miles (483 kilometres) according to the EPA test cycle.

The standard configuration of this powertrain will deliver 489 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque and the available Performance Pack will boost these figures up to 517 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque.

For even more performance, the all-wheel drive system will feature a rear bias as well as a dual-clutch torque vectoring function on the rear axle. This will allow the power to be distributed to the outside wheel when going around curves to improve the SUV’s handling characteristics. A de-coupling feature will allow FWD operation to improve efficiency.

The Polestar 3 is also equipped with an adaptive air suspension and available 22-inch wheels in order to provide a level of performance and comfort that will match its price point.

At moment, only one version is available for pre-order in Canada. At a starting price of $97,400, this version is what Polestar calls “Loaded”, which means that more affordable models could be offered later.

Deliveries of the Polestar 3 are set to begin in Europe and North America in the last quarter of 2023. These first units will be built in the company’s current factory in China, but production in Volvo’s South Carolina factory will begin soon afterward and this facility is planned to become the only source of the Polestar 3 for North America.