Consider the Polestar O2 idea first: A hardtop roadster convertible with an integrated autonomous drone

Polestar, the Swedish EV brand, has revealed another proof of its departure from parent Volvo Cars' DNA by revealing its second concept car, the Polestar O2. This all-electric, hard-top convertible builds on Polestar's Precept concept and demonstrates the design and environmental goals for Polestar's future EVs. However, whether or not cinematic drones will be incorporated remains unknown.

Polestar is a rapidly expanding luxury electric vehicle brand founded in 2017 as a joint venture between Volvo Cars and Geely Holding. Currently, the carmaker provides two electrified cars – the plug-in hybrid Polestar 1 and the all-electric Polestar 2 – but (at least) three more are on the way.

The Polestar 3 SUV will be the first, followed by the Polestar 4 SUV in 2023. Polestar's initial prototype electric vehicle, the Precept, will enter full production as the Polestar 5 in 2024.

While the Polestar 1 and 2 share an electric vehicle platform and a design evocative of the Volvo brand, Polestar intends to "move out of mom and dad's basement" with its future cars, as Polestar America's head of media and public relations, JP Canton, put it. Especially the more sporty EVs that will be built on Polestar's newly revealed bonded aluminium chassis.

We discussed the light, rigid platform with both Maximilian Missoni, Polestar's head of design, and Gregor Hembrough, Polestar's head of US operations, during yesterday's concept launch in Beverly Hills.

Polestar O2 is a modular and sustainable idea.

Polestar announced the O2 concept EV officially this morning in a press statement, following an event attended by Electrek in Beverly Hills yesterday. This is the first time the public has seen Polestar's second concept car, following the Precept.

According to the Swedish carmaker, it has pushed the Precept's design language a step farther... or perhaps closer, given the O2's shorter wheelbase. Polestar refers to its new concept as a roadster to emphasise the excellence and rigidity of its modular aluminium chassis. Missoni continued:

Polestar O2 is our idea for a new age of performance automobiles. By fusing the exhilaration of open-top driving with the purity of electric mobility, it creates an entirely new set of emotions in a car. However, as is the case with all of our vehicles, we are about more than straight-line sprints. The real thrill occurs when you spin the steering wheel.

Throughout the event, Missoni took us on a tour of the concept EV, detailing various design processes and expanding on what the O2 actually signifies. He emphasised use as little materials as possible, preferring single-base, or "mono-materials," as well as disassembly-specific components. All soft interior components of the Polestar O2 are made entirely of recycled polyester.

Polestar prioritises sustainability throughout the whole process of developing and producing electric vehicles. It is also a vital way of thinking as the manufacturer moves on with its Polestar 0 Project, which aims to develop a totally climate-neutral electric vehicle by 2030.

When you see the Polestar concept in person, it is far broader, lower, and sportier than the official photographs convey, so we took our own shots.

Is it... an integrated drone?

Missoni highlighted the aerodynamics to us as we walked around the back of the prototype with Polestar's head of design:

The truth is, we are all required to consider this today as a result of electrification. However, we are dealing with something significantly different because Polestar has a very crisp, exact architectural design language... We aim to maintain this razor-sharp and precise design language influenced by aeronautics. However, we are very pure at the same time... As a result, there are no gimmicks.

Missoni instantly responded, "talking about gimmicks," and highlighted the O2 concept's integrated drone, which can deploy while the EV is travelling at a low pace. Thus, Polestar allows for at least one conceptual gimmick, but it's rather cool.

As seen in the video below, the cinematic drone can follow the Polestar concept EV automatically, potentially saving automotive journalists a lot of time and work if we ever get to drive the O2.

Polestar revealed that its engineers created a customised aerofoil that extends below the back seats to create a negative pressure zone. The drone's magnet is then released, allowing it to lift off and autonomously shadow the automobile at speeds of up to 56 mph (90 km/h). Following recording, the drone may also return to the automobile automatically.

When the Polestar concept is stopped, drivers may select from a variety of shooting modes and then edit and share video clips straight from the 15-inch central display.

Additional improvements include Polestar 3.

During our visit to Los Angeles, we had the opportunity to meet down with Gregor Hembrough, Polestar's president of Polestar US, and discuss the company's future - specifically, Polestar's production EVs and the US market. We asked him what consumers in the United States may anticipate from the Polestar brand as it grows in popularity:

What they can anticipate is what we have consistently delivered, which is technology, design, and innovation. We're constantly looking to be the pioneers of new technologies, such as Google's embedded Android technology. I believe that the automobiles will continue to seem quite forward-thinking in terms of design. I may rephrase the question as follows: we know who our clients are and what else is in their driveway. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the Polestar 3 will be our SUV, the Polestar 4 will be a similar vehicle, and the Polestar 5 will be a luxury sedan. The product proliferation continues, fitting into growing niches and aligning with a performance premium brand.

We had to inquire as to when we may see the Polestar 3 and received a response! Polestar's first electric SUV is scheduled to enter production "late, late in the year," and Hembrough expects it to be in showrooms in Q1 2023.

Given the Precept is one of the few examples of an idea being scaled up, we couldn't help but wonder whether the O2 is headed in the same direction. However, before we could even inquire, the plan was knocked down... for the time being.

Polestar's head of public relations, JP Canton, stated that while they would all want to build Polestar O2, the project is "in no way, shape, or form greenlit at this juncture." At the moment, the company's principal focus is on bringing the Polestar 3 to market.