Polestar CEO Wants To Put Sexy O2 Drop-Top Concept Into Production

Swedish EV maker Polestar has its hands very full at the moment. Not only is it hoping to take Wall Street by storm, but the company is also readying a bevy of new and exciting models, like the brand’s first-ever SUV and the barnstorming Polestar 5 that recently wowed attendees at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Also in attendance was the Polestar O₂, a gorgeous concept that stole our hearts when it debuted in March. After lusting over the bewitching looks and claimed performance, the Swedish company pulled the rug from beneath our feet – at the time, there were no plans to put the sleek beauty into production. However, that may change very soon.

Speaking to Top Gear, CEO Thomas Ingenlath expressed his desire around turning this concept into reality. “My ambition is to make it a production car, but it’s not that easy.”

Of course, sending a high-end electric sports car down the production line is easier said than done – just ask Elon Musk. But it’s more than simple challenges standing in the way of the O₂, says Ingenlath: “You have to respect the complexity. We have to see where the O₂ is going. When you’ve painted a painting, it’s always good to let it rest, and look at it after a couple of months and still see if it’s a good painting.”

It wouldn’t be too difficult for the company to fit the sports car with the electric drivetrain found in the rapid Polestar 5. That would surely transform this wheeled sculpture into a true range-topper, which is what Ingenlath views the O₂ as. “Polestar O₂ is the hero car for our brand,” he said. “It opens the door to our secret chamber of future potential. This is a taste of what we can design and engineer.”

We’d love to see the Polestar 2 gain a sleek and desirable stablemate and, with any luck, the company’s CEO will follow through on his ambitions.

Elsewhere, Ingenlath shared more about the Polestar 5’s incredibly powerful electric setup. With 872 horsepower on tap, it’s certainly an achievement, especially when you consider the rear motor was developed in-house.

“It’s insane, and great, and it’s super to do that, and you can imagine what kind of car you get there,” said the CEO. But he’s very aware of the fact that, very soon, high outputs such as this won’t be impressive. “But that 870 horsepower will not be outstanding, because Tesla can do that… everybody can do that.”

Where Polestar will differentiate its four-door GT car is in the driving experience. It needs to be enjoyable to pilot, he says, with great handling and precise steering. As for who’s going to buy it, Ingenlath told the UK publication that this will appeal to “all the people that feel excited about not driving an SUV.”