RE: Polestar 1 available to pre-order now
Discussion
k.defonsecca said:
He was at pains to say they will be totally separate from Volvo / won't be sharing an existing Volvo dealership as they want Polestar to be a completely separate brand, as we all know anyway. He said their idea is to make the 1 to create a "high bar" for quality, image etc and then launch future Polestar models further down the price range but still have a high "brand value" created by the Polestar 1, a bit like Toyota / Lexus I guess.
Quite an alarming comment for those looking to pre-order then, as i assume that there are currently no Polestar dealerships yet set up. However, by the time the first deliveries of these take place, i assume there will be?So, in the mean time, are Volvo dealers obliged to service and take care of them until such time? This is surely something that needed forward planning before allowing pre-orders?
I don't understand.
I do like the car and specs, a lot.
But why dont Volvo just make this car as the S90 Coupe, as mentioned?
Or are they still going to make the S90 Coupe, which would be like this, but less hardcore?
I dont understand Volvo doing this. They are on a roll.....
I'm not saying this Polestar 1 shouldn't be around....but like...why?!
Is anyone else asking why?
Make it a Volvo, a bit cheaper etc and you'll sell a lot more of them!
I do like the car and specs, a lot.
But why dont Volvo just make this car as the S90 Coupe, as mentioned?
Or are they still going to make the S90 Coupe, which would be like this, but less hardcore?
I dont understand Volvo doing this. They are on a roll.....
I'm not saying this Polestar 1 shouldn't be around....but like...why?!
Is anyone else asking why?
Make it a Volvo, a bit cheaper etc and you'll sell a lot more of them!
The brand values of Volvo can be stretched only so far. To offer a super-premium product like this, a new brand is required (not too different to what we saw long ago with Toyota / Lexus).
This is especially important as Polestar ownership is touted as being experiential and focused on the user to an uncommon degree (eg: buying online, possibly with a subscription offer, always in contact with the OEM, etc.).
In some countries, like the US, a manufacturer is prohibited from doing these things if they also exclude or tend to degrade the value of the franchised dealership network. Thus, only a new business and new brand -- ones without current dealership commitments -- can pursue such an experiential / technological strategy.
RobDickinson said:
Basically marketing decided no one would pay 116k or up for a Volvo coupe so gave it a new name.
Could be. I'd say it's more about a race to achieve a couple of milestones.For example:
a) establish a business among super-premium buyers -- a segment that is much larger today than only a few years ago (and where Volvo has limited credentials)
b) prove ways of selling / maintaining / experiencing a vehicle that are, if you will, tabula rasa and not beholden to the existing dealership power structure
c) prove mass market capabilities in advanced powertrains -- and set the stage for these to trickle down to mainstream Volvo if / when properly sorted.
The irony is that the people in "marketing" don't really decide as much as discern. Things like market forces and consumer preference are doing the talking.
Kenny Powers said:
SpeckledJim said:
Very handsome indeed. Looks like a great option at £50k.
Not sure changing the name from Volvo to Polestar is going to be sufficient to make up the gap to £116k.
This wouldn’t exist at £50k. It would never have left the first board meeting. You’re better off in 1982 if you want to pay that sort of money for such cars Not sure changing the name from Volvo to Polestar is going to be sufficient to make up the gap to £116k.
All the above is available on umpteen Volvos for c.£30k. The extra oomph this thing has is additional, granted. That's what gets me to £50k.
How on earth do we get to >£100k, given that 90% of the car is so very deeply ordinary?
The design of that thing is gorgeous. Many many pretty things coming from that part of the world lately!
Since getting my '98 V70, many Volvo owners have mentioned that 'they don't make them like they used to' with mutters of Ford/China... any truth in this? Haven't been in a modern one, but saw a brand new V90 yesterday and it looked fantastic on the outside.
Since getting my '98 V70, many Volvo owners have mentioned that 'they don't make them like they used to' with mutters of Ford/China... any truth in this? Haven't been in a modern one, but saw a brand new V90 yesterday and it looked fantastic on the outside.
SpeckledJim said:
Seems to me it's got a very ordinary Volvo engine, coupled to a standard-ish hybrid system. Volvo interior and dash. Volvo electrical architecture. Volvo drivetrain. Volvo styling and engineering.
All the above is available on umpteen Volvos for c.£30k. The extra oomph this thing has is additional, granted. That's what gets me to £50k.
How on earth do we get to >£100k, given that 90% of the car is so very deeply ordinary?
Article suggests extensive use of carbon fibre to mitigate weight of powertrain - this will come at a price & likely explain the jump in cost.All the above is available on umpteen Volvos for c.£30k. The extra oomph this thing has is additional, granted. That's what gets me to £50k.
How on earth do we get to >£100k, given that 90% of the car is so very deeply ordinary?
Polrules said:
SpeckledJim said:
Seems to me it's got a very ordinary Volvo engine, coupled to a standard-ish hybrid system. Volvo interior and dash. Volvo electrical architecture. Volvo drivetrain. Volvo styling and engineering.
All the above is available on umpteen Volvos for c.£30k. The extra oomph this thing has is additional, granted. That's what gets me to £50k.
How on earth do we get to >£100k, given that 90% of the car is so very deeply ordinary?
Article suggests extensive use of carbon fibre to mitigate weight of powertrain - this will come at a price & likely explain the jump in cost.All the above is available on umpteen Volvos for c.£30k. The extra oomph this thing has is additional, granted. That's what gets me to £50k.
How on earth do we get to >£100k, given that 90% of the car is so very deeply ordinary?
From the PH article:
"roughly 50 per cent of the car is new and bespoke to Polestar"
"major structural components from carbon fibre"
"completely counteracted the 230kg weight penalty incurred by the batteries... increase torsional stiffness by 45 per cent"
"the first car to be equipped with Ohlins' Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension... adapting the car's dynamics to suit the situation in just two milliseconds"
"0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds thanks to the 600hp and 728lb ft"
"A fixed term, zero-deposit, subscription programme had previously been touted as the only way to get the car"
.
"roughly 50 per cent of the car is new and bespoke to Polestar"
"major structural components from carbon fibre"
"completely counteracted the 230kg weight penalty incurred by the batteries... increase torsional stiffness by 45 per cent"
"the first car to be equipped with Ohlins' Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension... adapting the car's dynamics to suit the situation in just two milliseconds"
"0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds thanks to the 600hp and 728lb ft"
"A fixed term, zero-deposit, subscription programme had previously been touted as the only way to get the car"
.
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