Polestar 4: No Rear Windscreen, But Plenty of Innovation
Technology continues to revolutionize modern vehicles, and the Polestar 4 is a prime example. This electric vehicle stands out in 2024 for eschewing a familiar feature: the rear windscreen. Instead, the Polestar 4 utilizes an array of sensors and cameras, displaying a live feed on a screen in the rearview mirror.
This unique design choice, according to Polestar’s chief technology officer, Lutz Stiegler, is part of the company’s strategy to create a “different environment” inside the car and offer a distinctive “silhouette.” The design choice prioritizes aerodynamics; by lowering the roofline, the engineers reduced aerodynamic drag, which helps to improve the car’s range and performance.
“What really drove us into this is the overall concept optimisation of the entire car – we wanted to have a car that is aerodynamically efficient, and that requires getting the rear end of the roof down,”.
Stiegler explained. He noted that the resulting narrow space for a traditional rear window would compromise visibility, and that the rear seats offered a more comfort-oriented position.
The technological advancements in the Polestar 4 go beyond its exterior design. Like many modern vehicles, the car boasts a central touchscreen console that controls all interior and exterior functions. The infotainment system incorporates a specialized version of Google Maps tailored for electric vehicles, taking into account the car’s charge level, desired charging stops, and preferred arrival battery life.
Furthermore, in-car sensors monitor driver fatigue and eye movements, providing alerts to prevent distraction. Drivers can also create personalized profiles to customize the display and seat settings, bringing a ‘Netflix profile’ experience of digital customization to car use.
Stiegler emphasized that Polestar is committed to “focusing our money on things (technology) that really make a difference,” including infotainment systems and the ongoing collaboration with Google. He reiterated the importance of fine-tuning the car’s performance through technology.
“The drivability of the car is also important because most of our customers are coming from the Polestar 2 and want to have that special driving feeling that a Polestar has, with the quite firm suspension, response on the accelerator pedal and brake, and that, of course, requires a lot of tuning to do, and we also have a lot of software involvements that we have to do,” he said.
The EV manufacturer also intends to produce a car constructed from bonded aluminum, which will result in a lighter and more technologically advanced vehicle with fewer rivets and mixed metal structures.
