Polestar's O2 Four Seat Convertible Concept Is Absolutely Stunning

Polestar, Volvo's premium electric car startup, shattered the automotive design world with its beautiful Precept concept car. As Polestar prepares a production version of this sleek sedan, we now have another amazing Polestar to stare at, and it's called the O2. Not to be confused with the Polestar 2 compact sedan, the O2 nameplate seems to emphasize this convertible's eco-friendly ethos, resembling the element symbol for oxygen.

The O2 concept is a small four seat hardtop convertible, and it translates much of the Precept's styling cues into a more compact and aerodynamic package. Polestar did this to exhibit how the Precept's newly distinctive design direction can be carried over to other types of vehicles, while remaining just as beautiful and muscular. The O2 features the Precept's easily recognizable Thor's hammer headlight signature, as well as a sharp LED light bar in the rear. Short front and rear overhangs, a sloping hood, and a wide stance give the O2 a drool-worthy low-to-the-ground look, while retaining the shape of many other small performance cars. Minimal character lines give this cabriolet a clean and very Scandinavian impression, and this characteristic is further complemented by large wheels with a simple, yet stylish design.

“Polestar O2 is our vision of a new era for sports cars. By mixing the joy of open top driving with the purity of electric mobility, it unlocks a new mix of emotions in a car. But as with all our cars, we are about more than just straight line sprints. It’s when you turn the steering wheel that the true fun begins," said Polestar Head of Design Maximilian Missoni.

The O2's design also serves a purpose for optimal performance and range, with the taillights acting as air blades to minimize turbulence, and flush air ducts to direct the air flow around the wheels and body of the vehicle. Additionally, the O2 features an exclusive bonded aluminum platform shared by the upcoming Polestar 5 sedan, which allows for impressive body control and rigidity. This platform also helps to optimize handling of the car, with a straight steering feel, improved torque buildup, high roll damping, and reduced roll angles.

Inside is where the O2 shines, with a unique 2+2 four-seat layout, and highly sustainable materials. Recycled polyester is utilized for most of the cabin's soft surfaces, like the 3D knit fibers, foams, adhesives, and non-woven laminated materials. Using this recycled material actually reduces the convertible's weight, as well as material waste. Another major component found in the O2 is thermoplastic mono-material, which is essentially a single material used for numerous different parts. In terms of tech, the O2 features the Precept's revolutionary HMI (Human Machine Interface) 15-inch screen, with a digital gauge cluster placed behind the steering wheel. The cabin takes on a mainly white theme, but with a small splash of color from the yellow seat belts.

The O2 may be just a concept, but Polestar decided to add a cool "cinematic" drone that functions autonomously. The drone is hidden behind the sporty rear seats, and can even be used when the car is driving. This is accomplished with an aerofoil created by Polestar's engineering team, which comes up from behind the seats to develop negative pressure around the back of the vehicle. This allows the drone to safely take off by itself, as long as the O2 doesn't exceed the 55-mph mark. As you may have been wondering, the purpose of this drone is to film cinematic clips of the stylish drop top, whether it is parked or in motion. Two different settings are available, including what Polestar calls an "atmospheric sequence," which is recommended for calm highway cruises. However, there is also an "action-filled" sequence that expresses more motion and speed as the drone hovers around the car. Once the drone has autonomously returned to its hiding place behind the rear seats, the driver can edit and share the video from the infotainment screen.

The Polestar O2 shows the great potential of Polestar in both design and innovation, which will be expressed when three new electric vehicles arrive in the coming three years. While we know that the first model will be the Polestar 3 SUV, we hope that at least one of these EVs will be a production version of the O2.

Would you want to see the O2 evolve into a production car?

Images: Polestar