{"id":218393,"date":"2024-03-29T15:48:59","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T15:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/29\/when-no-rear-window-makes-for-a-better-car\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:19:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:19:42","slug":"when-no-rear-window-makes-for-a-better-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/29\/when-no-rear-window-makes-for-a-better-car\/","title":{"rendered":"When no rear window makes for a better car"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Last year, Polestar <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/the-polestar-4-electric-suv-arrives-with-544-hp-and-no-rear-window-073505710.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:announced its most practical EV yet;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">announced its most practical EV yet<\/a> in the Polestar 4. But this week, during the vehicle\u2019s North American debut at the New York International Auto Show, we finally got an official launch price and a chance to check out its most controversial feature.<\/p>\n<p>Positioned as a slightly smaller and more affordable version of the <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/polestar-3-first-look-possibly-the-best-looking-ev-for-2023-133508992.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Polestar 3;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Polestar 3<\/a>, the company&#8217;s latest EV SUV has a lot riding on it as it looks to be Polestar&#8217;s most appealing mainstream offering to date. The good news is that while the cost was initially said to be around $60,000, launch pricing actually comes in slightly below that. The Polestar 4 starts at $56,300 (including destination) for the standard long-range single-motor version with around 300 miles of range while the dual-motor AWD variant with around 270 miles will set you back $64,300.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 576px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:60%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"The Polestar 4 features a rather striking profile.\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/s3MgrsAUnzgdCYU9.mwyQA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2024-03\/f40d3f20-ed66-11ee-b5eb-88f973b4a2a7\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Polestar 4 features a rather striking profile.\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/s3MgrsAUnzgdCYU9.mwyQA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2024-03\/f40d3f20-ed66-11ee-b5eb-88f973b4a2a7\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\"><span class=\"caption-credit\"> Photo by Sam Rutherford\/Engadget<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Granted, that\u2019s still significantly higher than many of its rivals including <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/tesla-now-offers-a-43990-rear-wheel-drive-model-y-in-the-us-055515210.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:the Tesla Model Y;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">the Tesla Model Y<\/a> which starts at $43,900 (before federal incentives) or the <a data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/hyundai-ioniq-first-drive-180018819-180018785.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hyundai Ioniq 5;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Hyundai Ioniq 5<\/a> at $47,400. But after talking to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath, I got the sense that the company is kind of OK with that, as they view the 4 as a more approachable but still very premium offering among EV SUVs.<\/p>\n<p>On the outside, the Polestar 4 retains the rakish good looks we\u2019ve seen on its larger sibling but with a few twists. Its nose is a bit pointier and more sloped, and it\u2019s a bit less complicated too as it doesn\u2019t have a front wing like the 3. The Polestar 4 is still based on the low-slung coupe-like SUV shape that\u2019s all the rage right now. However, to ensure that rear-seat passengers have ample room, Polestar has forgone a rear window entirely, opting instead for a simple sheet of metal along with cameras and a rearview mirror with an embedded display.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 576px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:60%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"Instead of a rear window, the Polestar 4 features a camera that pipes footage to a rearview \" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/jXUoCP_SUhEoxsQ1hElmlw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2024-03\/1ae42dc0-ed67-11ee-bd6f-a9f6bca4fa48\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Instead of a rear window, the Polestar 4 features a camera that pipes footage to a rearview \" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/jXUoCP_SUhEoxsQ1hElmlw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2024-03\/1ae42dc0-ed67-11ee-bd6f-a9f6bca4fa48\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\"><span class=\"caption-credit\"> Photo by Sam Rutherford\/Engadget<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>At first, this might seem like a step too far, even for an EV that might not be beholden to the same burden of tradition as gas cars. But Ingenlath explained that there are a lot of advantages that come from this design change. By not having a rear window, Polestar was able to push the rear seats back further while maintaining ample headroom despite the sloping roofline, which creates a spacious cabin. I had no trouble climbing in and out and even with the front seats pushed as far back as possible, I still had ample legroom in the back. Furthermore, unlike most cars, the Polestar 4\u2019s rear seats can recline, which adds even more of a loungey feel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"caas-carousel\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"Slideshow\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<p><span class=\"current\">1<\/span> \/ 14<\/p>\n<div class=\"description collapse-caption\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<h2 class=\"description-headline\">Polestar 4 photo from the 2024 NYIAS<\/h2>\n<div class=\"description-caption-wrapper\"><span class=\"description-caption\"><\/p>\n<p>A hands-on photo of the upcoming Polestar 4 from the 2024 New York International Auto Show.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another major advantage is one of practicality. As it is, the rear windows on a lot of coupe SUVs are so small they don\u2019t provide much in the way of useful visibility. And that\u2019s before you consider any passengers or luggage that might further obstruct your view. By replacing the rear window and mirror with a camera and a display, the Polestar 4 can offer an unobstructed perspective out of the back of the car. But perhaps most importantly, the idea of a car not having a rear window isn\u2019t really unheard of, as there are thousands of cargo vans on the road today without a viewport in back.<\/p>\n<p>So while the idea might still seem nerve-wracking, Ingenlath remains confident. He simply asked customers to \u201ctry it.\u201d He added \u201cThere&#8217;s so much about psychology and people being naturally opposed to change. But innovation is about asking what have been the rules in the past that don&#8217;t necessarily need to be the rules in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The company\u2019s Scandinavian heritage shows through with a streamlined interior. That said, Ingenlath said the goal isn\u2019t minimalism for minimalism\u2019s sake. By creating a new fabric made from recycled plastic bottles called Soft Tech, Polestar was able to line the cabin with a sustainable 3D material that allows ambient lighting to shine through while still being quite durable. Up top, the fixed glass roof is electrochromic, which allows it to switch from transparent to opaque with the touch of a button.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 576px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:60%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"A rear-angle shot of the Polestar 4 at the NYIAS 2024. \" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/kdFuIT7WAvqwf0hjFxzN9A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2024-03\/d41531f0-ed66-11ee-afff-e6bd79e6cca4\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A rear-angle shot of the Polestar 4 at the NYIAS 2024. \" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/kdFuIT7WAvqwf0hjFxzN9A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU3Ng--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2024-03\/d41531f0-ed66-11ee-afff-e6bd79e6cca4\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\"><span class=\"caption-credit\"> Photo by Sam Rutherford\/Engadget<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>One thing that stuck out to me was that like all of Polestar\u2019s vehicles, the 4 feels like a designer\u2019s car. As someone who got his start in the industry creating cars for VW, Audi and others before becoming the CEO of Polestar, Ingenlath said the company really cares about small details like the font and typography. You can see this in things like the text on the driver\u2019s side door, which features both the name of the car and the size of its battery, resulting in a label that\u2019s both pretty and informative. Alternatively, there are features like the ambient lighting, which uses a naming standard based on planets in the solar system (blue with a hint of green for Earth, red for Mars, etc.). Ingenlath said \u201cWe simply love what we&#8217;re doing, and we love indulging that passion. And we have to find the people who share the same passion for that type of quality and technology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, we haven\u2019t had the chance to take the 4 out for a drive just yet. But as the competition among EVs continues to increase, it\u2019s clear Polestar is carving out a niche as a manufacturer that embraces innovation through its vehicles. With pre-orders going live sometime in April and deliveries slated for Q4 2024, it shouldn\u2019t be long until we get a chance to experience how the Polestar 4 feels on the road.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.engadget.com\/polestar-4-first-look-when-no-rear-window-makes-for-a-better-car-150052884.html?src=rss\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Last year, Polestar announced its most practical EV yet in the Polestar 4. But this week, during the vehicle\u2019s North American debut at the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":218394,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218393"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218393"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":332865,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218393\/revisions\/332865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/218394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}