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Auto Car
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Car
This Polestar just went nearly 600 MILES without charging on real UK roads!
Unmodified Polestar 3 beats its official range by 143 miles and sets a new benchmark for EV SUVs Open gallery Polestar 3 used for the attempt was completely factory-spec SUV achieved efficiency of 5.1 miles per kilowatt hour during the run Close The Polestar 3 has claimed the world record for the longest distance travelled by an electric SUV on one charge, cracking nearly 600 miles in one hit on UK roads. The new Long Range version of Polestar's flagship SUV, with a 107kWh battery and a single 295bhp motor on the rear axle, managed 581.3 miles of driving around the east of England. That comfortably beats the 3's 438-mile official range and smashes the previous record of 569.64 miles, set by the Ford Mustang Mach-E last year. The distance travelled equates to a final efficiency figure of 19.5kWh per 100 miles, or 5.13mpkWh, which is in line with the official WLTP efficiency figures of some small electric cars weighing around two-thirds as much as the 2.4-tonne 3. Polestar said the SUV continued for eight miles after the battery charge readout reached 0% and still managed to get to a charger, suggesting it could even have gone slightly farther. Crucially, the car used for the attempt was completely unmodified – even using the standard Michelin Sport 4 EV tyres – and the attempt was carried out on open public roads, including single-track lanes, dual carriageways and B-roads. The news comes a week after Chevrolet revealed its new Silverado EV pickup truck had managed a whopping 1060 miles on a single charge, but that was with light modifications in place and took seven days to complete. Furthermore, the Chevy's 205kWh battery pack is around twice the size of the Polestar's and it averaged 4.9mpkWh, compared with the Swedish car's 5.1mpkWh. The current outright range record for an unmodified electric car, as recognised by Guinness World Records, is held by the Lucid Air. However, the Polestar's record-chasing run was undertaken in conditions that better reflect real-world driving so is more relevant to consumers, explained Sam Clarke, one of three drivers who piloted the car during the attempt. 'This is a 'journey' record, which means that we use public roads, we have to adhere to normal speed limits and we can't go over the same road twice, so effectively we do one very large loop, as best we can.' That last requirement presented a significant obstacle, as not only did it become increasingly difficult to avoid previously used roads while remaining on the flat ground needed to maximise range, but it also meant that any late changes to the route could have quashed the team's chances of setting a record. 'We did have one particular jeopardy when we got to Melton Mowbray at the very tail end of the run and it turned out there was a cycle race on the next day, so a load of the roads were closed. Every time we tried to change direction, we found another road closure and another road closure...' said Clarke. Fortunately, some quick thinking from the navigator got the team back on a diversion route without having too drastic an impact on remaining range. Clarke said the journey record is more relevant than the outright range record because 'it's the closest thing to the real world, on proper roads at proper speeds'. He added: 'We're not suggesting for a second that everybody can achieve the same ranges that we did, but we did exceed the WLTP figures by some margin, so it just shows what's possible. Driving a little bit more efficiently – which ultimately equates to just moving your right foot a few less millimetres each time – can actually generate significant amounts of range'. Figures like this, while not necessarily achievable in everyday driving, help to show that 'EVs really can go a long way now', Clarke said, and 'the range anxiety phraseology we've seen in our industry for many years is rapidly diminishing'. Clarke, who has taken part in several previous EV record-breaking runs (including the Mustang Mach-E one last year), said range anxiety as a concept is 'definitely dying' but 'the infrastructure still needs to continue to improve as the technology advances in the vehicles as well'. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Formula One team Alpine takes aim at Porsche with A390 electric SUV
French performance car brand and Formula One team Alpine has revealed its second all-electric model, which is set to take on Porsche in the hot EV SUV market. The new Alpine A390 is the company's first bespoke EV – its A290 hot hatchback is a sister car to the Renault 5 – with the fast French brand calling it a 'racing car in a suit'. The A390 sits on Renault Group's AmpR Medium platform and gets an 89kWh battery with a 342 mile claimed maximum range. It's the first Alpine with four-wheel drive, courtesy of a single motor at the front and twin motors at the rear with an active torque vectoring system that's said to improve agility and grip. The 20- or 21-inch wheels wear Michelin tyres specifically made for the A390. The hottest GTS version with 464bhp will cover the 0-62mph sprint in 3.9 seconds – faster than a Porsche Macan 4S – while the GT model with 395bhp will do the same dash in 4.8 seconds. Alpine says the battery has been specially developed for the A390 and is able to offer the same level of high performance when required with no drop off in power. Fast charging at speeds up to 190kW is available, offering a 15 to 80 per cent charge in less than 25 minutes. There's also a standard heat pump on board to improve cold-weather efficiency. Although the A390 will rival existing EV SUVs like the Porsche Macan, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, BMW iX2 and Cupra Tavascan, Alpine calls the A390 a sport fastback. Its sleek coupe-like shape is in keeping with the Cupra than the more sensible Tesla, although its dimensions are not far off the Model Y's. Alpine says that the A390 will still seat five people in comfort, while there's also a big 532-litre boot. Ultra-slim LED headlights feature at the front, along with smaller, triangular LEDs referred to by Alpine as 'cosmic dust'. More triangular elements decorate the lower front bumper and the F1-style front spoiler. The bonnet features sharp slashes in the metalwork, with further sharp creases along the side of the clean bodywork – door handles for the front and back doors are recessed – leading to powerful haunches across the rear wheel arches. At the back the rear screen has been designed to mimic a driver's helmet visor, while yet more slim LEDs and cosmic dust feature across the full width of the rear hatch. The Alpine logo is also illuminated by red LEDs. A high-quality interior features two customisable 12in digital screens in landscape mode for driver information and with a portrait layout for the Google-powered infotainment panel. The flat-bottomed steering wheel features F1-inspired aluminium buttons to adjust brake regeneration and offer a boost function for overtaking and launch control. Gear selection is made via buttons on the high-set centre console, a nod to Alpine's first modern-day car, the A110, which is also set to be electrified in its next incarnation. There's plenty of leather and Alcantara around the cabin, with special Sabelt bucket seats in the GTS model, plus a bespoke Devialet audio system featuring aluminium speaker grilles. As you'd expect from a premium model, there'll be plenty of personalisation options for the outside, inside and tech. Standard tech includes that Google-powered infotainment alongside Alpine telematics that include coaching and challenge settings. There are four sporting themes for the live data display measuring agility, power, endurance and circuit data and lap times. Plus there's the expected driver assistance features that can be selected by a My Safety button beside the steering wheel. We're some way from prices for the A390 being announced, but we'd expect both the GT and GTS model to undercut the equivalent Porsche Macan with prices of around £60,000 for the A390 GT and £70,000 for the A390 GTS. The order books should open in November this year, with the first cars delivered in the UK in the middle of next year. And as is the Renault Group way, Alpine fans can be among the first to get their cars by buying a VIP A Pass for priority ordering that will also get them exclusive news and a gift.
