The Polestar Precept is a vision for what future vehicles from the Geely-owned company might look … [+]
Ahead of next week’s Geneva International Motor Show, Volvo sibling Polestar has revealed a new electric concept called the Precept.
Intended to be a visual waypoint for the future of the Polestar brand, the Precept is certainly a handsome thing, but it also has a focus on sustainability.
Following a green path already trod by Jaguar, Volkswagen and Bentley with their use of reclaimed and recycled materials, the Polestar Precept includes 3D-knitted seats made from recycled plastic bottles.
Interior panels and seat backs are made from flax-based composites, which save 50 percent in weight over conventional materials, as well as reducing plastic waste by 80 percent. The seat bolsters and headrests are made from recycled cork vinyl, and the carpets are made from reclaimed fishing nets. Polestar says these materials “define a new premium luxury that surpasses the conventions of leather, wood and chrome.”
The Polestar Precept will be on display at the Geneva International Motor Show on stand 5253 in hall … [+]
Using a similar Google-powered Android infotainment system as the Polestar 2, the Precept has a 15-inch portrait-orientated touch screen in the middle of the dashboard. A 12.5-inch driver display sits behind the steering wheel of what is otherwise a smart but minimalist cabin.
An eye-tracking system monitors the driver’s gaze to adjust the infotainment and instrument displays accordingly, while proximity sensors make it easier to interact with the touch screen while driving. All three mirrors have been replaced by cameras and digital displays, as also seen on the Honda e.
Polestar has not revealed any technical specifications for the four-door Precept’s drivetrain, other than saying its 3.1-meter wheelbase houses a large battery pack. The company also emphasizes how rear leg and headroom were a priority when designing the car.
Polestar has an eye on autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance with the Precept, which houses a Lidar system at the top of the windscreen – a technology the company describes as “a next step towards increased driver assistance.”
The Precept has seating for four in a minimalist cabin.
Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath said: “Precept is a declaration, a vision of what Polestar stands for and what makes the brand relevant. The car is a response to the clear challenges our society and industry face. This is not a dream of a distant future, Polestar Precept previews future vehicles and shows how we will apply innovation to minimize our environmental impact.”
There’s nothing yet to say the Precept will actually go on sale, but we suspect some aspects of its design will work their way into future electric vehicles from Polestar.
Polestar Precept
Maximilian Missoni, head of design at Polestar, said: “Polestar Precept’s aesthetics are rooted in cutting-edge technology rather than looking back in time at historical, automotive references…The combination of sustainable materials and high-tech smart systems opens an entirely new chapter of avant-garde luxury design and shows where Polestar is heading.”
The Precept will be on display at the Geneva International Motor Show, which is open to the public 5-15 March, on stand 5253 in hall five.
