Volvo’s performance arm to focus on high-performance electrification.
Swedish carmaker Volvo has barely let its performance arm, Polestar, take a breather since it acquired the previously-independent brand in 2015. After first letting them loose with the Polestar S60 and V60 and then sorting out performance optimisation packages for the rest of Volvo’s range, Polestar is now being given the go ahead to develop itself into its own brand, focused on high-performance, electrified cars.
So determined is Volvo to push Polestar into a new age, the Senior Vice President of Design of the Swedish marque will be assuming the role of CEO at Polestar. Thomas Ingenlath is largely considered to be responsible for the design-led revolution at Volvo. “Thomas heading up the Polestar organisation shows our commitment to establishing a truly differentiated stand-alone brand within the Volvo Car Group,” said Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson.
Ingenlath will not be alone. Jonathan Goodman will also be leaving his post as Volvo’s corporate communications boss to assume the roll of COO of the Polestar organisation. “With 25-years of commercial experience in the automotive industry, Jonathan is ideally placed to provide operational experience alongside Thomas’ vision, building on the experienced management team that will drive the Polestar brand forwards,” Samuelsson commented.
This move comes hot off reports suggesting that Polestar is working on its own, bespoke high-performance vehicle, that will likely share the powertrain of the most powerful T8 hybrid systems currently found on Volvo production models. There is every likelihood that Polestar’s development moving forward will be aided by British sports car specialists Lotus, which parent company Geely very recently acquired as part of a deal with Malaysian carmaker PROTON. Polestar’s furthered development in this area would probably go on to benefit Polestar Cyan Racing, the motorsports arm of the rebellious blue badge, with rumours surrounding PCR and its possible entry into Formula E.
Those familiar with Polestar’s relationship with Volvo in recent years will certainly see this as a coming-of-age of sorts, as the brand begins its move to take on other performance divisions like BMW’s M-Division and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG. Though it may be relatively new, its capabilities were proven when it scooped up the record for the fastest four-door saloon around the fabled Nürburgring last year, though in typical Swedish fashion, it didn’t tell anyone about it until earlier this year.
Thus far, it’s entirely possible that the sports car Polestar is working on will sit on a fully-electric platform, though a hybrid/electrified powertrain for their halo car could be possible too. What’s next for Polestar? Sky’s the limit, we think.
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