Göteborg, Sweden
Maximilian Missoni and Volvo’s Polestar have a vision: that sustainable materials can create new design opportunities while redefining premium and that technology can further close the gap between driver and car, and that design languages can (and should) always evolve.
Jointly owned by Volvo Cars and Zhejiang Geely Holding, Polestar has morphed from the Swedish manufacturer’s partner in performance engineering into a separate brand specializing in sporting EVs.
The new Polestar Precept sedan is unabashedly modern, bordering on wildly futuristic. There are also so many interesting touches that it offsets normally unpleasant items like a floating screen and tacked-on digital gauge display.
“In terms of the product, we start with the materials, their origin, their production process and their recycling capabilities,” states Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design for Polestar AB.
“We wanted to find a way to give these natural materials such as flax fibers a modern and technical context, but still reveal their natural textures and structures. This can be seen in the interior of the Precept, where the ampliTex™ flax panels created by Bcomp are backlit to highlight and showcase their unique construction and attributes.”
Polestar Precept isn’t just meant to showcase sustainable materials, however. It’s also a declaration of both our aspirations and our priorities, establishing a framework that every future Polestar car can adhere to.”
“We have a chance to start from a clean sheet of paper in terms of what our products should be and build on our belief that the automotive world will change dramatically,” Missoni explains when discussing the design and overall concept behind the Precept.
“It also leaves us free to explore different solutions from a purely electric perspective.
“Aerodynamics is important in car design, all the more so when it translates into kilometers of range” says Missoni continues.”
“So that’s why, with the Precept, we wanted to show off and introduce our features and our ideas when it comes to optimizing the airflow around the vehicle.”
“So, a lot of those things you will see popping up in future Polestars, like the air curtain and aero blade.”
The aero blade, extending the rear to enhance the aerodynamics and “create a free-flowing vortex behind the car,” also happens to be Missoni’s favorite detail.
Other distinctive details of the Precept get this same treatment. The SmartZone is the Polestar take on the area traditionally occupied by a grille, so named because it houses a number of sensors and other technology.
The lidar, however, is found on the roof, encased in a pod placed at the top of the car to ensure maximum coverage.
We’re not trying to hide these sensors,” says Missoni. “We’re celebrating them and showing them off.”
The lack of a rear window is another, having replaced it with a camera to maximize headroom, optimize airflow, and to allow the trunk to open to a much larger degree.
Designer: Maximilian Missoni
Manufacturer: Polestar AB
