Polestar Precept in detail 08.04.2020: Precept, the car with which Polestar envisions its future, was created to showcase three key areas for the Swedish brand: sustainability, digital technology and design. Foll

Precept, the car with which Polestar envisions its future, was created to showcase three key areas for the Swedish brand: sustainability, digital technology and design. Following its digital reveal in February, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath now takes a look at Precept in detail, and in reality, in Gothenburg, Sweden.



The name “Precept” was chosen to emphasise the vehicle’s role in setting out Polestar’s intent as the contemporary electric performance brand. A precept is a manifesto of things to come; a declaration. The car signifies an important milestone for Polestar as a standalone brand, describing a unique design philosophy that remains firmly embedded in Polestar’s brand values: pure, progressive and performance.



“People ask me all the time, ‘what is the future of Polestar?’, and of course we are not showing our future models just yet,” comments Thomas Ingenlath. “But Precept shows you where we will be heading – our design direction, our ambitions about sustainability and the great digital user experience we will bring with those future cars. Precept showcases our future, not as a fancy dream or something out of a sci-fi movie. This is our reality, to come.”




Sustainability



    Precept interior shows how high-tech, sustainable materials used together in the right combination can create a new luxury design language


    Vegan interior with high levels of recycled content, building on the vegan foundations presented by Polestar 2


    Polestar works together with with Bcomp to integrate flax-based natural composite which has been used extensively to replace many virgin plastics


    Composite material reduces interior component weight by 50% with an 80% reduction in plastic


    Proprietary powerRibs™ technology from Bcomp is inspired by leaf veins, offering rigidity with low weight


    Bcomp’s ampliTex™ composite material is strengthened by the powerRibs™ to create strong and rigid componentry which can reduce vibrations by up to 250% and perform better during an impact


    The seat covers are 3D-knitted from 100% recycled PET bottles in a single thread – made exactly to size with no waste or off-cuts


    Recycled plastic bottles are also used for the 100% recycled headlining textile


    The ECONYL® carpets are woven from Nylon 6, recovered from reclaimed fishing nets


    Waste and recycled cork from the wine industry is converted into cork-based vinyl for seat bolsters and head rests




Digital technology



    Evolution of the Android-powered infotainment system first found in Polestar 2


    Large 15-inch digital interface recognises the driver upon approach, with settings and personal content authenticated by the Polestar Digital Key


    Google Assistant evolves with advanced speech technology in more languages with better local dialect interpretation and more personalised experiences


    Video streaming services will become available when parked or charging


    Proximity sensors adjust what is shown on the screen depending on where the user’s hand is placed – display brightness and screen content adjusts according to movements and the need for more or less information depending on what the user is doing


    9-inch horizontal driver display contains vital information and is linked to eye tracking




    Eye tracking monitors where the driver is looking and adjusts the way information is presented – smaller and more detailed when the driver is focused on the display, and larger, brighter, vital information when focused on the road


    Google Maps and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) are now merged into one system for safer manoeuvres and more accurate predictions based on traffic conditions, and shown together in one combined graphic in the driver display






Design




    A distinct direction for Polestar design language characterised by restrained yet powerful surfacing and aerodynamic efficiency


    Polestar Design evolves to take sustainability and technology as sources of inspiration instead of looking back at historical automotive references


    Precept is a proof point of how avant-garde design and perfect proportions can create a new aesthetic for the electric age


    Front wing, integrated into the bonnet, improves air flow by reducing turbulence over the rest of the body – important for increasing EV range




    Air ducts behind the front wheels allow air to exit the wheelhouses and contribute to a more laminar flow around the side of the car


    Air ducts in front of- and behind the rear wheels contribute to brake cooling as well as wheelhouse depressurisation


    22-inch performance wheels are forged and machined, and feature aerodynamic inserts


    Thor’s hammer front light signature now split along the horizontal edge, an evolution of the signature in a more robotic,





Polestar style


    Welcome and farewell light sequences are inspired by astronomical events, starting in a burst of light from the centre of the car which radiates outwards


    From breathing to seeing: SmartZone replaces the traditional front grille with elements required for Pilot Assist including long- and mid-range radar units, ultrasonic sensors and a high-definition wide-angle camera – a natural placement for this technology in the digital age


    Additional SmartZones on either side of the car house additional driving assistance sensors


    Roof-mounted LIDAR pod positioned for superior visibility for future advanced driving technology


    Play between high-gloss and matt surfaces – within one colour or switching between materials; a distinct lack of chrome


    Sensor- and lighting technologies, as well as high tech materials, which are celebrated through careful design execution, serve as a new set of premium details that move away from using stereotypes such as chrome, leather and wood


    Graphics are minimalistic, in a Polestar execution – technical descriptions and precise expressions


    LED side markers on the C-pillars indicate charging status


    Front splitter, side sills and rear valence in Bcomp natural composite echo interior panels


    Flush door handles as well as flush integration of the glasshouse – removing all air flow disturbances


    Slim waist and powerful hips; aerodynamic tapering of the cabin


    Doors open wide for easy access; rear doors are rear-hinged


    Long wheelbase accommodates high battery capacity and lots of interior space despite low roof line – batteries are purposefully placed beneath the floor without intruding into the rear passenger footwells, much like Polestar 2





    Rear legroom is given high priority, akin to that of larger luxury tourers, and matched by expansive headroom and a panoramic view


    A precise, diamond cut crystal houses a holographic projection of the Polestar emblem, placed between the rear seat headrests as a symbol of the brand’s role as a guiding star in a new execution; an inscription on the crystal shows the precise astronomical position of the polar star


    Rear signature features precise and geometric lighting with a soft, sculptural body shape


    Absence of rear window allows for the traditional rear roof beam to be moved further rearwards for an extended, single-volume glass roof and better head room – as well as a larger, deeper tailgate opening with a roof-mounted hinge


    Rear camera and side cameras feed digital interior mirrors


    Full-width tail lights with vertical air blades complete the aerodynamic design, allowing for cleaner air flow off the vehicle surface

Andrew Lytheer, photos Polestar