Polestar are different. They were the first car company in Ireland to sell their cars exclusively on-line. However, earlier this year, Polestar joined 'the herd' and opened an impressive new showroom in Sandyford Industrial Estate where potential new customers can go in to 'kick a few tyres', get feel of one of their new models and take a test drive.
Last week, I was driving the Polestar 4 and got an unusually high number of enquiries, simply because the car has no rear window. Yes, it's true. In order to provide more head room for back passengers the rear window has been replaced by a camera which shows the driver the traffic that is coming up behind. Also, for the first time, back seat passengers can recline their seat for even more leg and head room.
It definitely takes a bit of getting used to. You do get the impression that the cars coming up behind are really too close for comfort. Basically, you have to depend on cameras for everything, and some of us over 50 still tend have a look out the back window when reversing and not depend totally on the reversing camera all the time.
Will the idea be copied by other manufacturers, we will have to wait and see, but for now, this idea of no rear window is certainly getting people talking about Polestar, a Swedish brand established in 1996 by Volvo Cars' partner Flash/Polestar Racing and it was acquired in 2015 by Volvo. Polestar cars share technology and engineering with Volvo, but they like to be viewed as a stand-alone company. Their cars are made in China.
The car has a very minimalistic look to it, externally and internally. The dash is dominated by a massive 15-inch screen which allows the driver or indeed front seat passenger do a myriad of things. From the screen you can open the glove compartment and the boot. The only old-fashioned button in the interior is located between the driver and front seat passenger for controlling the volume of the radio or whatever device you are using. I also liked the heads-up display on the windscreen, which should help drivers avoid penalty points.
You are advised to select the radio station you want and at nighttime your preferred ambient lighting you want applied before moving off as it can be very dangerous to take your eyes off the road trying to find some button on that huge 15-inch screen.
At first glance, the logo on the bonnet reminded me of the St Brigid's Cross that RTE television used back in the sixties. The logo is also used on the boot, on the bonnet and steering wheel, a puddle light at nighttime and also on the fob to open and close the car. The interior is very bright, thanks to a full-length sunroof, but there were times in the cold weather last week that I felt I would like to close maybe half of the sunroof for a warmer/cosier feel.
Prices start at €56,490 for the basic model and there is a high-performance version with 544 brake horsepower also available if it's speed you are after. Road tax is €120.
There is no start-stop button, simply select drive and away you got. The parking button is located on the stalk to the right of the steering wheel, and it could be confused for the windscreen washer.
The car is very easy to handle and so comfortable to travel in. That Volvo connection also means that the car is strong on safety. There is a massive boot and a neat Frunk under the front bonnet. In crowded car parks on dark night, you will probably need an app to help you find your car as there is no button to press on the key fob to get the hazard lights flashing.
Naturally there will be comparisons with Tesla, who coincidentally are also based in Sandyford Industrial Estate in South Dublin.