Polestar confirmed Tuesday morning that its beautiful O2 convertible idea will enter manufacturing because the 2026 Polestar 6. This implies we are able to stay up for a correct electrical drop-top that is not the long-promised Tesla Roadster. (Sure, I’m conscious that the GMC Hummer EV’s “infinity roof” panels may be eliminated, however you understand what I imply.)
We thought it might be attention-grabbing to see how the 2 forthcoming e-roadsters stacked up. It is price noting that neither of those vehicles “exist” but and that the specs and details laid out listed below are preliminary, and are very doubtless topic to vary.
Polestar 6
- Worth: TBD
- Powertrain: Twin-motor AWD
- Horsepower: 884
- Torque: 664 lb-ft
- 0-62 mph: 3.2 seconds
- High velocity: 155 mph
- Vary: TBD
- Seating capability: 4
- Roof: Retractable hardtop
- Launch date: 2026
Tesla Roadster
- Worth: $200,000 in 2017
- Powertrain: Tri-motor AWD (one in entrance, two within the rear)
- Horsepower: ~1,000 to 1,400 in line with Engineering Defined.
- Torque: 7,375 lb-ft (10,000 nm) in line with Tesla. 758 lb-ft in line with Engineering Defined.
- 0-60 mph: 1.9 seconds
- High velocity: “Over 250 mph”
- Vary: 620 miles
- Seating capability: 4
- Roof: Detachable glass panel
- Launch date: 2023
Let’s begin with the enjoyable stuff: efficiency. Whereas the extra tame Polestar makes do with one motor on every axle producing a complete of 885 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, the Tesla makes use of three motors—one powering the entrance wheels, and two for the rears.
The one hp and torque figures launched by Tesla occur to be 10,000 nm, or 7,375 lb-ft of torque again when the automobile was first unveiled in 2017. In an enlightening video by Jason Fenske of Engineering Defined, nevertheless, that determine represents the automobile’s wheel torque and never the industry-standard engine torque that is generally quoted by different producers. Transformed to engine torque, the Roadster apparently makes 758 lb-ft and, relying on how heavy the automobile occurs to be, ought to make someplace within the ballpark of 1,000 to 1,400 hp.
That engine torque determine is not fairly as eye-catching because the one Tesla printed but when the corporate’s acceleration stats are correct, it is nonetheless sufficient to handily outrun the Polestar 6. Whereas the Polestar wants 3.2 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) and tops out at 155 mph, the Tesla claims to succeed in 60 mph in simply 1.9 seconds and has a high velocity exceeding 250 mph. In different phrases, whereas the Polestar seems to supply the same tempo to, say, a very quick gas-powered tremendous sedan, Tesla has set its sights on hypercars like Rimacs and Bugattis, that type of factor.
Consider it or not, each vehicles will apparently be four-seaters. Or 2+2s, extra precisely, with that second set of 2s absolutely being fairly cramped. They deviate, nevertheless, when it comes to how their roofs are eliminated. Whereas the Polestar 6 will use a power-retractable hardtop (à la the Mazda MX-5 RF and McLaren’s Spider fashions), the Tesla Roadster’s extra targa-like state of affairs makes use of a hand-removable glass panel much like the MkIV Toyota Supra.
Now, for the elephant within the room: pricing and availability. Polestar hasn’t specified a worth for its convertible EV however, for what it is price, Tesla assigned a $200,000 price ticket to the Roadster again in 2017. Adjusting for inflation, the Tesla Roadster would price about $240,000 if it have been launched in 2022.
However it’s not. Initially slated for 2020, the Tesla Roadster has been delayed a yr, yearly since. Its present goal date is 2023, however based mostly on Tesla’s monitor report, I would not maintain my breath. Polestar, in the meantime, says the 6 can be out in 2026.
