Radical BST Concept signals hot Polestar 6

New EV roadster is not out for two more years - what better time to show a BST version at FoS?

By Cam Tait / Thursday, 11 July 2024 / Loading comments

Polestar is very keen for you to know it as a performance brand and, as such, goes pretty big for the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Back in 2021, it unveiled a hot version of the Polestar 2, then proved how committed it was to the performance cause by releasing the production-grade BST at the same event 12 months later. For this year’s event, it’s got another BST concept up its sleeve based on the as-yet-unreleased Polestar 6.

Simply called the ‘Concept BST’, the prototype features a radical aerodynamics packaged that (probably) adds a heap of downforce and (definitely) ups the visual impact of the minimalistic Polestar 6. Every surface seems to have some sort of aero device glued to it, starting with the front splitter with small flicks either side to channel air flow around the wheel arches, which have been stretched to accommodate the concept’s ‘extra-wide track’. Filling those arches are 22-inch forged centre-lock alloy wheels, behind which sit the gold-painted callipers that signify Polestar’s Performance-grade Brembo brakes.

Elsewhere, the bonnet has been ‘aerodynamically optimised’ with two centre ducts adorned with 911 GT3 RS-style louvres, while the Polestar 6’s larger diffuser has been modified with new strakes to direct high-pressure air from underneath the car. The party piece is that towering swan neck rear wing, which is split into two tiers like a Pikes Peak prototype. Tying it all together is a racy livery that’s paired with ‘classic motorsport silver’. Granted, Polestar hasn’t done any racing in its electric era but it was a decent touring car outfit in the 2000s, where it famously competed in bright blue liveries.

Anyway, Polestar is keeping schtum on performance details for now, but if the Polestar 2 BST is anything to go by then it may only have a slight increase in power over the ‘standard’ 6. Not that it’s short on grunt, mind, with the concept’s dual-motor configuration developing 884hp and 664lb ft of torque, which Polestar claims can hurl the roadster from 0-62mph in just 3.2 seconds. Most of the work will have likely gone on the underpinnings, which is based around a bounded aluminium chassis designed in-house for the 6 and upcoming 5 four-door coupe.

Polestar hasn’t revealed whether or not the Concept BST will take on the Goodwood Hill, but the 6 it’s based on certainly will. The speedster will be seen moving under its own battery power at the event, alongside the Polestar 3 and 4, though production isn’t due to get underway until 2026. With any luck, a BST version similar to the concept seen here could arrive soon after.

“Goodwood Festival of Speed is full of the most exciting cars and the most enthusiastic crowds, so it’s the perfect place for us to tease our Polestar Concept BST”, said Polestar boss Thomas Ingenlath. “This car is a demonstration of how far we can push our performance brand - Polestar turned up to 11 if you will - and a demonstration of how we could apply the BST formula to our lineup in the future.” Hopefully the BST Concept’s arrival points to more performance models in the future. If only there were somewhere for Polestar to take them racing…