Polestar has undertaken the first of a series of crash tests as part of the development of the Polestar 1. This represents the first time the Volvo Car Group has assessed the strength of a carbon fibre reinforced polymer body in a real crash situation.
“We were really excited about this crash test. The first crash test of Polestar 1 has been about exploring the unknown,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Chief Executive Officer at Polestar. “This was a crucial proof point in the development of Polestar 1; we had to know that the ideas and calculations that have gone into building this car were right – and they were.”
In contrast to a steel body where bending helps the integrated crumple zones to reduce the amount of crash energy that reaches the vehicle’s occupants, carbon fibre dissipates energy by cracking and shattering.
Close attention was given to the way the carbon fibre body reacted to the extreme forces involved in the impact. The engineers also focused on how the underlying steel body structure, and carbon fibre ‘dragonfly’ which strengthens it, managed the forces.
The Polestar 1 verification prototype, part of the first Polestar 1 build series, was propelled into a stationary barrier at 56kph, simulating a frontal collision.
Most of the energy was absorbed by the car’s crash structure, with the remaining energy mitigated by the carbon fibre body panels into the body structure which remained rigid and did not show signs of bending or misalignment after the crash.
Zef van der Putten, responsible for carbon fibre at Polestar, comments: “The outcome of this first crash test validates the decision to build the body of Polestar 1 in carbon fibre. It also confirms that carbon fibre supports the highest safety standards. This is an example of how Polestar spearheads the development of new technology in the Volvo Car Group.”
The crash test was conducted at the Volvo Cars Safety Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, where cars and other vehicles are crash-tested in a large number of real world simulations.
Also worth a look: the 315kW of Swedish Grit: The Volvo EX30 Cross Country Revealed and the Volvo EX90: The Future of Safety Lands in SA in 2025.
FAQ
Q: What does the Polestar 1 cost in South Africa?
The Polestar 1 was priced around R2,800,000 in South Africa when it was available, but production ended in 2021 so you'll only find pre-owned examples now.
Q: Is the Polestar 1 worth buying?
The Polestar 1 is worth considering if you want an exclusive hybrid grand tourer with 447kW of total power and carbon fibre construction, but expect high maintenance costs and limited service network support.
Q: How safe is the Polestar 1 compared to other luxury cars?
The Polestar 1 meets Volvo's highest safety standards with its carbon fibre body that dissipates crash energy through controlled cracking, plus the underlying steel structure remains rigid during impacts.
Q: What makes the Polestar 1's carbon fibre body special?
The Polestar 1's carbon fibre body is reinforced with a steel 'dragonfly' structure that absorbs crash energy differently from traditional steel bodies, shattering in a controlled way rather than bending.
Q: Should I buy a used Polestar 1 in 2024?
A used Polestar 1 makes sense if you have R2,500,000 plus for a rare collector's item, but consider the limited 1,270 unit production run and potential service challenges in South Africa.
Should You Buy It?
The best ultra-exclusive hybrid grand tourer under R3,000,000 in South Africa is the Polestar 1, but only if you're after automotive art rather than practical transport. With just 1,270 ever made and production ending in 2021, you're looking at R2,500,000 to R2,800,000 for a low-mileage example. The combination of 447kW total power, carbon fibre craftsmanship, and Volvo safety tech makes it special, but the limited service network and eye-watering running costs mean this is strictly for collectors with deep pockets. Buy it if exclusivity matters more than practicality, skip it if you actually need to use it daily.
