Polestar has announced that its O2 electric roadster concept has moved to a production model as the Polestar 6, with assembly expected to begin in 2026.
First unveiled earlier this year, the O2 was originally designed to showcase the carmaker’s glued aluminum platform, which Polestar produces in-house, as well as some quirky features like an integrated drone for aerial shots. The roadster is the company’s second concept to be upgraded to an official production model after Polestar said it was transforming its Precept concept into the Polestar 5 in 2024.
The Swedish company, a joint venture between Volvo and its Chinese parent company Geely, currently has only one model available: the Polestar 2 electric fastback sedan. The Polestar 3, an electric crossover SUV, is expected to be unveiled in late 2021. The fourth vehicle is also expected to be an SUV and the Polestar 5 will be a four-door sedan with a hatchback in the rear.
The Polestar O2 shares many design features with the Precept, including sharp lines and a light signature that reflects the company’s Volvo origins. The vehicle’s body is low and wide with an aggressive stance and a compact interior, what Polestar calls ‘classic sports car proportions’ with a more modern electric feel.
The Polestar 5 and 6 will be built on the same 800-volt architecture that should enable ultra-fast charging when connected to a DC fast charger. In addition, the O2 will have a power output of up to 884 hp (650 kW) and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) from a dual-motor powertrain, a target 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.2 seconds, and a top speed of 250 km/h.
Although the Polestar 6 won’t go into production until 2026, the company is already inviting customers to reserve a construction site by logging into the Polestar website starting today, August 16. And to celebrate the launch, Polestar is producing 500 numbered copies of a special “LA Concept” version of the roadster, complete with a sky-blue exterior, leather interior and unique 21-inch wheels from the original Polestar O2 concept.
The Polestar 6 will certainly carry over many of the eco-friendly qualities of the O2 concept. The interior is made from a new thermoplastic mono-material – in this case a recycled polyester for use as the sole material for all soft interior components, such as seat foam, adhesive, 3D knitted fibers and non-woven lamination. Polestar has said this simplifies recycling and represents a step towards “greater circularity”, while also reducing weight and waste.
But we’ll have to wait and see if some of the concept’s more outlandish features, like the integrated cinematic drone, make it into production. The idea was that owners could use the drone to film themselves while driving down a winding mountain road, for example. In other words, it is designed to be deployed while the car is moving and to record driving sequences.
The drone – which is also a concept – was developed in collaboration with Hoco Flow, Aerofugia’s consumer electronics brand. (Aerofugia is the company formed after Geely acquired Boston-based electric vertical take-off and landing company Terrafugia.)
