A review by Warren Wilkins.

PREMIUM electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar and the partial solar eclipse were a match made in heaven.

The car company is named after the North Star and uses celestial as well as cosmic themes in its vehicles.

Polestar celebrated its association with the special alignment in the universe by attending an eclipse event held at the Bedruthan National Trust car park on August 12. Astronomical group Kernow Astronomers were on hand to show the hundreds of people in attendance the partial eclipse through their specially adapted telescopes, which drew national attention.

Astronomical group Kernow Astronomers were on hand to show the hundreds of people in attendance the partial eclipse through their specially adapted telescopes
Astronomical group Kernow Astronomers were on hand to show the hundreds of people in attendance the partial eclipse through their specially adapted telescopes

People from around the world were treated to the spectacular sight as more than 90 per cent of the Sun was covered by the Moon.

The car company brought along a fleet of its futuristic all-electric high-performance SUV coupé Polestar 4 for the special occasion and I was given an opportunity to test drive one.

One of the first things I noticed was Polestar 4's interior ambient lighting is directly themed around the planets of our solar system. A band of light orbits the rear cabin beneath the car's expansive glass roof. Through the car screen, occupants can switch between a set of planetary lighting themes, from Mercury's warm amber tones to Saturn's cooler, ethereal hues, along with small facts about each planet. It's part of Polestar's identity as a celestial entity, built around its star logo.

Polestar 4's interior ambient lighting is directly themed around the planets of our solar system
Polestar 4's interior ambient lighting is directly themed around the planets of our solar system

The driving experience of the Polestar 4 is best described fast, composed, and a quiet ride. The vehicle balances sporty agility with refined comfort though its power delivery is immediate, smooth, and relentless, feeling like a point-and-shoot muscle car in a straight line. The Polestar 4 is suited to cruising around town but excels on the open road thanks to its composed high-speed ride stability, suppressed road noise, well-weighted steering, and long-distance seat comfort. Its balanced 50/50 weight distribution keeps it confident through sweeping bends, making motorway cruising and smooth A-roads effortless.

The once-in-a-generation partial solar eclipse wowed hundreds of people at Bedruthan
The once-in-a-generation partial solar eclipse wowed hundreds of people at Bedruthan

There is no rear window, which is replaced by a high-definition roof camera feeding a digital rear-view mirror that takes time to get used to. Overall the Polestar 4 is a joy to drive and what impressed me most was how little battery was used on each journey.

The vehicle is certainly winning over legions of fans. The UK is Polestar’s largest market, with 60,000 now on UK roads as of July. People have the opportunity locally to test drive a Polestar at its Space in Plymouth.

Polestar’s visit to Bedruthan National Trust car park for the partial eclipse was held in conjunction with the nearby Scarlet Hotel as both are focused on the idea that luxury and sustainability align seamlessly. Polestar is about premium, design-led electric performance but backs that up with a published life cycle assessment for every car and constantly looking at ways to bring down emissions. The Scarlet applies the same perspective to hospitality: an adults-only luxury spa hotel on the Cornish coast that runs on 100 per cent renewable electricity and has a zero-waste approach.