Polestar leans on tech edge for its sporty, powerful and very coupe-looking Polestar 3 SUV
Derryn Wong
12/10/2022
Page 1: Polestar 3 performance SUV aims at Porsche and German lux rivals
Electric Performance
Polestar 3 Dual Motor Long Range
482hp / 840Nm, 0-100km/h 5.0 seconds, 210km/h top speed
Polestar 3 Dual Motor Long Range (Performance Pack)
510hp / 910Nm, 0-100km/h 4.7 seconds, 210km/h top speed
Both models:
111kWh battery pack, 11kW AC charging, 250kW DC fast charging
WLTP range 610km
The P3 looks impressive enough on paper with its quick sprint times and big power/torque figures, but where the car pushes the envelope is in handling. The relatively low stance, as mentioned, factors into that, with the car’s centre of gravity only 10mm higher than that of the Polestar 1 grand tourer.
Initially the car will be offered in one variant, the Dual Motor Long Range, with an additional Performance Pack delivering more oomph. The dual motor system will have a rear-biased drive, and the rear motor can also be decoupled for more efficiency.
The front suspension sees a double-wishbone layout, a major signifier of performance, or intent of it, at least. Air suspension is standard, the latest dual-chamber system that should be on-par with similar systems deployed by Audi and Porsche. Polestar says it self-adjusts 500 times a second (500Hz) according to road conditions, a performance variable that’s also highly dependent on the data fed into it, which is where the sensors come in.
Full details on the Performance Pack model are yet to be released, but it will include the torque-vectoring system and tuned air suspension, though we also expect it to include the yellow seatbelts, uprated brakes of the P2. The torque vectoring system is a new development, and located on the rear axle. It features a dual-clutch pack, presumably to push torque to each rear wheel individually and allow for more cornering performance. It’s an interesting feature, and one that might give the car added dynamism in corners.
Polestar’s latest battery pack to date, 111kWh, finds its home in the floor of the Polestar 3, and it’s claiming a WLTP range of 610km. That also translates to a long standard charging time, with 11kW the maximum AC charge rate, it should take a full charge in 10 hours or so. However the DC fast charge rate is 250kW, so it has been bumped up considerably over the Polestar 2 (130kW). At that speed, we can expect the car to do 10 to 80 percent in the industry standard half-hour.
There’s also a new feature in the form of bi-directional charging, meaning the car can also dispense energy, not just receive it.
SUVs have an image problem, says this man. Who is he and what is he on about? Once you’re done reading this story here are five things you might not have known about the Polestar 3. We also tell you if the seven-seat version is coming…
About the Author
Derryn Wong
CarBuyer's former chief editor was previously the editor for Top Gear Singapore and a presenter for CNA's Cruise Control motoring segment.
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