The cancellation of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show means that Polestar’s latest concept car, a sleek four-door electric vehicle called Precept, won’t have its big public moment. And this week Polestar announced plans to produce the car for the Chinese market. But the good news is, if you like it, expect Polestar models to appear in the United States in the future.
Starting with the exterior, when I first saw the Precept, I immediately thought about how cool Tesla owners wanted the Model S and its decades-old design to look. An important design detail is the lack of mirrors on the Polestar. Instead, it uses the camera and the reason is that the Present has no rear window. Technically, it has a rear sunroof, as the car’s glass roof extends beyond the rear passenger seats creating a panoramic experience.
Nothing says the future like clean interiors. The Precept’s cabin is made from recycled materials. The carpets are made from old fishing nets, the seats from old plastic bottles are woven using 3D weaving technology. Recycled vinyl is used to make furniture. These renewable materials are lighter than traditional luxury interiors while providing a premium feel to the touch.
The vegan interior is impressive in its own right, but it was the Precept’s infotainment screen that scratched our itch. The Precept will feature a Google-powered human-machine interface powered by Polestar. The system will work with advanced voice technology to understand local accents. It will allow video streaming and app functions while the vehicle is charging.
According to Polestar, it understands that as screens in vehicles become increasingly common, so will the risk of distraction. The Precept HMI system has eye-tracking technology that monitors when the driver looks at the screen at any given time. The screen itself has proximity sensors that know when a hand approaches it. The screen will automatically adjust the vehicle screen according to the situation. As the driver’s hand approaches, the monitor screen enlarges the buttons and sliders for easier access.
This week’s production announcement has no details on performance, battery range, powertrain specs, or even a release date. However, Polestar insists it will be released soon. And they believe this is a clear step forward in design, so we don’t have to hear the words “hey, it looks like Volvo design” found in Polestar 1 and 2. We’re looking forward to it. Wait for the next North Star!
