Lesser-known automaker Polestar has nearly sold out of its first model. The Polestar 1 is a plug-in hybrid coupe with 619 horsepower and a $156,500 starting price. Plans call for 1,500 for the North American market, and Polestar says less than 125 build slots are left.
Once a performance division of Volvo, Polestar became a separate company in 2017. It continues to produce high-performance versions of several Volvo models but now offers its own made-to-order cars.
The Polestar 1 uses a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine, mated to a pair of electric motors, all driving the rear wheels. Polestar says the combination is good for 60 miles of electric-only driving, and a zero-to-sixty time of 4.2 seconds.
Our testers found the 1 eye-catching and fun to drive, but noted that the rear seats are “uninhabitable by humans of any shape or size,” and the car lacks some amenities expected with its six-figure price tag, such as a power trunk and power-adjustable steering wheel.
Polestar’s focus is shifting to the less-expensive Polestar 2 electric sedan once it finishes the run of coupes. It also plans to introduce a crossover and a slick fastback model over the next few years.
