Polestar 1 Hybrid GT aims to leave the competition standing in more ways than one

APPEARANCES can be deceptive, especially in this case. You may think you are looking at a Volvo, but you aren’t. This is the brand new Polestar 1 Hybrid GT set to roll off its purpose-built production line in mid-2019.

To be fair it does look a lot like a Volvo. That’s because Polestar is the performance arm of Volvo that was recently rolled out as a standalone brand. The idea is to embrace electricity with a series of performance cars that offer something different whilst taking advantage of the economies of scale of the Volvo group.

So what is the Polestar 1?

The most obvious response to that question is ‘utterly gorgeous’. Just look at it. It’s hunkered down stance and sleek lines are both aggressive and elegant. It’s got the wide stance of a performance car but it combines it with the understated touches you would normally expect from a regular Volvo.

Apart from being a glorious looking thing, the Polestar 1 is a two-door, 2+2 seat Grand Tourer Coupé with an ‘Electric Performance Hybrid’ drivetrain. An electric car supported by an internal combustion engine is the basis of every hybrid on the market but the Polestar 1 offers a little bit more than most.

For a start it has an electric-only range in the region of 93 miles, way more than any other hybrid car currently on the market. The electric motors drive the rear wheels while the two-litre Volvo Drive-E petrol engine powers the front. It’s a brilliant combination that offers both performance and efficiency. In terms of business mileage it’s unlikely you will find anything else that offers that many emission-free miles, and the petrol engine should be clean enough to limit emissions as much as possible.

The part that will excite the more automotively- inclined business user – we may have just invented a new word there – is the part where you discover it also offers 600bhp and enough torque to tow an ocean liner. The Polestar 1 Hybrid GT doesn’t just aim to be environmentally aware, it’s also likely to be stupendously fast. 600bhp is bordering on supercar territory.

Latest technology as standard

Electronic suspension that can react in two milliseconds to immediately change the ride and handling. A carbon fibre body to reduce weight and improve stiffness, as well as lowering the cars’ centre of gravity. A double electric rear axle which enables precise acceleration on each wheel to keep the maximum road grip and maintain speed while cornering.

We may not grasp the clever engineering behind this technology, but we do know that lighter, stiffer cars with a low centre of gravity usually equate to cars that are an absolute joy to drive. If the Polestar 1 Hybrid GT handles in reality like it does on paper it will be phenomenally good.