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An ambitious electric vehicle startup is boldly challenging Tesla by introducing its most unique vehicle yet, one that completely eliminates the traditional rear window.
The innovative Swedish company, an offshoot and part-owner of Volvo, has unveiled a new model that replaces the conventional rearview mirror with a camera system. This cutting-edge approach marks a significant departure from typical car designs.
The Polestar 4, a compact luxury SUV, is manufactured in South Korea and boasts agile handling reminiscent of a Porsche, combined with a futuristic design that seems straight out of the sci-fi classic, Blade Runner.
During a media event in Austin, Texas, Mike Ofiara, the public relations manager for Polestar, confidently stated to the Daily Mail, “We are taking on Tesla. We believe we have a better product.”
Instead of utilizing a glass rear window, the car features a strategically placed camera on the roof, which streams a real-time video feed to the digital rearview mirror, providing drivers with a clear and innovative alternative to traditional mirror views.
The display is crisp and lag-free, even while driving through the Texas Hill Country – but it also makes glancing over your right shoulder to merge into slower traffic feel like seeing a black void in the periphery.
During our drive, the camera even picked up a shocked double-take from a gawking onlooker. One Polestar executive said the camera’s definition lets drivers spy on conversations when stopped at a red light.
Polestar flew the Daily Mail to Austin, Texas, to test out its next car, which is hitting US dealerships in December
The Polestar 4, a crossover SUV with no rear window, is expected to be the brand’s big seller
The EV maker has already started selling PS4s in Europe – the company said drivers in northern Sweden haven’t reported any visibility problems from ice buildup or mud, even in the throes of inclement weather
Another advantage: it sees better at night. The high-definition feed is much more accurate and accessible than a rearward view through glass.
The rest of the cabin is a more convincing argument.
Pushing the driver’s seat and steering column forward stretches out the interior, leaving limo-level legroom for back-seat passengers.
They get a panoramic roof, reclining seats, and their own touchscreen to tweak climate and audio.
Up front, the materials lean athletic rather than indulgent — lots of recycled plastic made to mimic running shoes and windbreakers.
The vibe is more Lululemon than leather lounge, which fits the car’s forward-thinking image, though it may disappoint buyers expecting something softer and plusher.
From the outside, the 4’s proportions flirt with awkwardness. The roofline bubbles slightly over large sport wheels, but the hood’s crisp lines and tiered LED headlights hint at its race track athleticism.
Polestar designers like to call the look ‘the kind of sexy a humanoid would appreciate.’ That’s marketing-speak for ‘unconventional.’
The 4 features a black wall behind the second-row – it is jarring when looking over the right shoulder from the driver’s seat
The car also features a ‘pet mode’ that cools off dogs that aren’t allowed in grocery stores – it will keep the car cool and keep the engine off while families get their shopping done
The elongated interior feels roomy in both rows, but the back-seat passengers have the best seat in the PS4 house
Still chasing mainstream recognition, the brand is hoping its latest model will be the one that finally breaks through.
And executives have claimed it will be their bestseller.
Under the oddly shaped sheet metal, Polestar offers two power options: A single-motor version rated for 310 miles of range, and a dual-motor with enough juice for 280 miles.
Engineers claim up to 350 miles in gentle highway driving, though real-world figures tend to sit comfortably below that.
On the road, the Polestar 4 feels polished.
The steering is quick and precise, the ride firm if not a little harsh, and the car feels impressively balanced thanks to its low-mounted battery pack.
‘We tuned it to be a race car, and then just backed off a tad,’ said Christian Sampson, Polestar’s head of product attributes.
The brakes bite smoothly, body roll is minimal, and acceleration is head-snappingly brisk.
Polestar tested everything from Lamborghinis to Teslas while developing the 4, but its engineers say they cherry-picked ideas carefully.
‘We didn’t like the fake engine noise,’ said product manager Ola Aldensjö. The silence works in the brand’s favor; the 4’s calm cabin and confident dynamics feel distinctly its own.
Exclusive tech continues to be a core part of Polestar’s pitch.
Polestar’s lack of rear window does give the car some interesting perks – but is also feels like a big risk for a company that hasn’t distinguished itself in the US market. Polestar is the only all-electric European mass-market car and its US expansion depends on this model
Polestar’s chief executive, Michael Lohscheller, took over the company’s top job in 2024
The company paid for the Daily Mail’s lunches and coffees throughout the trip – but opinions of the car are our own
Polestar will launch Google’s Live Lane Guidance, which will guide drivers to their exact lane on the highway
The company’s Google-based infotainment system is getting an upgrade called Google Live Lane Guidance, which tells drivers which lane to stay in to avoid missed exits or bottlenecks.
Pricing starts at $56,400 for the single-motor model and stretches north of $70,000 for the dual-motor.
That lands it neatly between Tesla’s Model Y and Porsche’s Macan EV, but the Polestar 4 makes no effort to mimic either.
It is more a design experiment than a crowd-pleaser – a car that prioritizes aesthetic risks over practicality.
And that’s where the big bet lies: Removing the rear window might make sense in a design studio, but buyers might hesitate once they sit in one and realize there’s nothing to see when they glance past the second row.
The PS4’s tech and handling impress, but its identity leans on novelty.
Polestar has built something fascinating – a fast, well-designed EV that refuses to follow the rules.
Whether that’s brave or naïve will depend on how many drivers can learn to trust a camera instead of a window.