Polestar Precept Coming to Geneva

© Polestar

By Perry Stern, AutoNXT

Look to the Future

© Polestar

Two years ago at the Geneva International Motor Show, Volvo premiered Polestar as a separate brand of electrified vehicles, launching it with the innovative Polestar 1. Since that time the electric performance brand has introduced the Polestar 2 sedan and hinted at an upcoming Polestar 3 SUV. To showcase what consumers can expect from this electric luxury carmaker in the future, the brand is taking the wraps off the Polestar Precept concept at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show.

Upcoming Innovation

© Polestar

“Precept is a declaration, a vision of what Polestar stands for and what makes the brand relevant,” said Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar. “The car is a response to the clear challenges our society and industry face. This is not a dream of a distant future, Polestar Precept previews future vehicles and shows how we will apply innovation to minimize our environmental impact,” Ingenlath also noted.

Proper Grand Tourer

© Polestar

The Polestar Precept concept fully-electric 4-door grand tourer sports a low, sleek silhouette, further emphasized a 120-inch wheelbase. With a fastback style, the glass roof stretches from the top of the windshield to the rear decklid. The long vehicle provides space for a large battery pack as well as an expansive rear seat.

Sustainable

© Polestar

In keeping with Polestar’s sustainability goals, the interior of the Precept uses new materials designed to lower the vehicle’s environmental impact. Interior panels and seatbacks are created from flax-based composites, which not only provide up to 80 percent reduction in plastic waste, they also offer a 50 percent weight savings over more common materials.

Recycled Materials

© Polestar

Instead of using typical leather for its seat surfaces, the Precept’s seats are made from a 3D-knitted material from recycled PET bottles, while the bolsters and head restraints are made from recycled cork vinyl. The carpeting is created from reclaimed fishing nets. Polestar sees these sustainable materials as the future of luxury vehicle interiors.

Android Operating System

© Polestar

The Precept’s infotainment system is powered by Google’s Android operating system, taking advantage of Polestar’s close relationship with Google. The centerpiece of this system is a 15-inch vertical touchscreen display that complements the 12.5-inch driver display. The Android system is designed to provide high levels of seamless personalization.

Cutting-Edge Technology

© Polestar

“Polestar Precept’s aesthetics are rooted in cutting-edge technology rather than looking back in time at historical, automotive references,” said Head of Design at Polestar Maximilian Missoni. “At Polestar, we see technology as an enabler, as a tool to solve our society’s problems and we translated this attitude into a new set of design principles,” Missoni noted.

SmartZone

© Polestar

As a fully-electric vehicle there is no need for airflow through a front grille to cool a hot-running internal-combustion engine, so the Precept uses this space for what the company refers to as the Polestar SmartZone. Behind a transparent panel sit two radar sensors and a high-definition camera, providing data to the safety and driver-assistance systems. Flanking this “grille” are the latest evolution of the iconic Thor’s Hammer headlights. At the rear is a light blade that spans the width of the vehicle.

LIDAR

© Polestar

To further improve the capability of the Polestar driver-assistance systems, the Precept is fitted with a LIDAR (LIght, Detection And Ranging) pod on the roof, providing the vehicle (and driver) with optimal visibility.

Aerodynamics

© Polestar

Aerodynamics are extremely important for improving the overall efficiency and range of an electric vehicle. To this end, the Polestar Precept concept features an integrated front wing placed above the SmartZone, which is designed to accelerate airflow over the long hood and improve efficiency. The trailing edges of the rear quarter panels and decklid create an aerowing, further aiding aerodynamics. Small cameras mounted on aerodynamic arms replace typical side mirrors.

Future of Polestar

© Polestar

Although we don’t expect the Polestar Precept concept to go into production as is, it certainly indicates key design and styling elements that could appear on future vehicles from Polestar. Missoni added that “the combination of sustainable materials and high-tech smart systems opens an entirely new chapter of avant-garde luxury design and shows where Polestar is heading.” We look forward to seeing Polestar?s future.