Blast off! FQ’s editor-in-chief test drives the Polestar 4

1 November 2024
By Fashion Quarterly

When your workday can sometimes involve being on the road, your car becomes more than just a vehicle — it’s your mobile office.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH POLESTAR

When your workday can sometimes involve being on the road, your car becomes more than just a vehicle — it’s your mobile office. Typically, my “office” is a family SUV, complete with three car seats and a floor littered with toys and books. So, when I had the chance to trade that in for the sleek, futuristic Polestar 4, I jumped at it.

The Polestar 4 is unlike anything I’ve driven before. Its coupé-SUV design feels more like a spaceship than a car. The low nose, retractable door handles, and frameless windows are all about aerodynamics, but what really caught my eye was the lack of a rear window. This bold design choice is meant to create ‘a new kind of immersive rear occupant experience’. I was curious, to say the least, and I had my doubts about how it would affect visibility. But those concerns vanished when I discovered the rear view camera, which replaces the traditional mirror. It’s one of 11 (that’s right!) cameras on the car, and it showed a crystal-clear view of what was behind me. I loved it immediately.

Once inside, the Polestar 4 continued to surprise me with its spacious, thoughtfully designed interior. The gear selector, cleverly moved to just behind the steering wheel, frees up space in the center console, which is now home to a discreet sound dial. The full-length glass roof amplifies the sense of space, making the cabin feel open and airy, like being in a cocoon of luxury. With a busy day ahead, I synced my phone, put the car into drive, and hit the road. The first thing I noticed was the silence. As an EV, the Polestar 4 is virtually noiseless — I had to double-check that the car was even on. Cruising to my first stop, I felt completely at ease in the driver’s seat, which had been adjusted to my exact specifications. The interior, crafted from high-quality sustainable materials, exuded an eco-conscious luxury that felt just right.

My first stop was Christian Louboutin to pick up shoes for a shoot. Navigating the tight car park was a breeze, thanks to the car’s intuitive camera system. After a quick email check, I was off to my meeting in Mission Bay. The Polestar 4 handled the road beautifully, gliding effortlessly along the scenic route. After two hours of driving around the city, I’d used just 6% of the battery. The Polestar 4’s fast-charging capability means it can recharge to 80% in just 30 minutes, so running out of charge was never a concern. As evening fell, I discovered one of my favourite features: the ambient lighting. The interior lighting can be customised to reflect the colours of the solar system. With a few taps on the expansive infotainment screen, I selected a calming blue — representing Earth — and asked Google to play some music. As I drove, bathed in the soft glow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in another orbit entirely.

The Polestar 4 isn’t just a car; it’s an experience — a seamless blend of cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and luxury. After a day in this “work whip,” it’s hard to imagine going back to anything else.

This article was originally appeared in Fashion Quarterly‘s Spring 2024 issue. 

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