When you think: cars-with-no-rear-window, you (should ) think of the iconic Maserati MC12 produced from 2004 to 2005. Only 50 examples were produced, and it remains the fastest Maserati road car ever made, with a top speed exceeding 205mph.
Now, a new 'rear-windowless' car has just entered the market. The Polestar 4 is now available to order in Ireland, with prices starting from €68,600. Production is planned to start towards the middle of this year, with first deliveries expected from August.
According to the Volvo-owned brand, its new fully-electric SUV is positioned between the Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 "in terms of size and price". It is also claimed to be the fastest Polestar production car to date.
Alarmingly, the new Polestar 4 has no rear window, which the brand claims "enables a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience".
Instead, the rear-view mirror has been replaced with a high-definition screen that shows real-time feed from a roof-mounted rear camera, enabling "a far wider field of view than what can be experienced in most modern cars". This can be deactivated to allow drivers to instead see rear occupants if needed.
In terms of performance, Polestar says its new car can sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and has a maximum power output of 400 kW (544 hp ).
Both dual- and single-motor variants are available, with the single-motor featuring rear-wheel drive.
Wheels range from 20 to 22-inches in size, with tyres supplied by Pirelli and Michelin, depending on configuration.
A 100 kWh battery is fitted to both long-range versions. The long range dual motor features 400 kW (544 hp ), 686 Nm and a preliminary range target of up to 580km (WLTP ). A disconnect clutch allows the car to disengage the front electric motor when not needed, to maximise range and efficiency.
The long range single motor version features a 200 kW (272 hp ) and 343 Nm motor at the rear, and preliminary range target of up to 610 km (WLTP ).
Up to 200 kW DC and 22 kW AC charging is included for both versions, and the charge lid is motorised.
Standard vehicle specification is said by Polestar to be high, including a range of driver assistance and vehicle safety. "Safety is part of Polestar’s DNA thanks to its strong connection to Volvo Cars and these safety genes are built into Polestar 4," the company said.
