The Polestar O2 concept is a stunning drop-top EV | FOS Future Lab | GRR
Polestar has revealed its new 2+2 roadster concept. Meet the O2, the Swedish EV marque’s “vision of open-top performance and a thrilling driving experience – with all the benefits of electric mobility”.
It follows in the footsteps of the outstanding Precept, due soon to go into production as the Polestar 5 flagship. It certainly takes the big four-door coupe’s styling language to the next level, with lighting largely carrying over. Being a two-door roadster, the O2 obviously sports a very different glasshouse, with a swooping coupe window. Out back, subtle buttresses replace the coupe-saloon look of the 5. The O2’s design is highly optimised aerodynamically, with ducts and channels controlling flow over the car.
Underneath the similarities with the 5 continue, with the O2 using the much-talked-about Bonded AI unibody that’s being developed in the UK for the 5. The O2 is 400mm shorter wheelbase wise than the big saloon, with the rigid chassis and controlled damping making for what Polestar calls a ‘lively’, ‘playful’ and ‘predictable’ driving experience.
Don’t let the sportier nature of the O2 fool you though. Polestar is as conscientious as ever, with plenty of sustainable and recyclable materials in use. All the soft materials are derived from recycled polyester, all the aluminium in the car is labelled with its grade to make recycling it easier.
As this is a forward-looking concept car, what contemporary gimmick does it boast? Something to do with Bitcoin or NFTs? Perhaps TikTok comes pre-installed. Wrong on both counts. The O2 comes with its own autonomous drone, taking what a dashcam would ordinarily do to the ultimate extreme.
So is the O2 going into production? Well, beyond core marques, the convertible and sportscar market is famously taboo for much of the car industry at the moment in terms of sales and profit potential. That said, with the Polestar 1 now out of production, the marque could do with a sportier, sexier flagship offering, even at low volumes. With a fleet of new production cars on the way, including a couple of SUVs and the new 5 four-door coupe, a production version of the O2 won’t be a priority. The company isn’t ruling it out, though…
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