Polestar is now a high-performance electric car brand

This is exciting. Volvo’s Polestar sub-brand is to become a stand-alone electric sports car manufacturer. Or, to quote Volvo itself, “a new separately branded electrified global high performance car company.”

It’s a stark change from S60s and V60s with more power and posh suspension components, which does make us a little sad. The V60 Polestar was a brilliant and very alternative rival to fast German estate cars.

But we’re very excited by what’s to come. Tesla aside, no one is really focused on purely electric performance cars. At least not ones outside of the 1,000bhp hypercar realm.

“Polestar will be a credible competitor in the emerging global market for high performance electrified cars,” says Håkan Samuelsson, the boss of Volvo Cars. “With Polestar, we are able to offer electrified cars to the world’s most demanding, progressive drivers in all market segments.”

Thomas Ingenlath has moved from a senior position at Volvo to be the new Polestar CEO, showing Volvo’s commitment to the project. He said: “I am really excited to take up the challenge of establishing this exciting brand, developing a fabulous portfolio of bespoke products and channelling the passion we have throughout the Polestar team. The next chapter in Polestar’s history is just beginning.”

While Polestar will become a separate brand, it will still share tech and engineering know-how with Volvo, a company already well on board with hybrids. It’s ditched any engines with more than four cylinders, utilising electrical assistance to ensure it can still provide 400bhp saloons and SUVs.

So, over to you: what should Polestar’s first car be?