Inside the world’s only car showroom made from snow and ice – but there’s a major problem

WELCOME to the North Polestar – the world’s first car showroom made from snow and ice.

It won’t be open for long because it’ll melt.

Rob at the North Polestar – the world’s first car showroom made from snow and ice

Of all its ‘show space’ installations, this 39ft (12-metre) cube is the most impressive

But it shows how electric car firm Polestar likes to do things differently.

For a start, you can’t just go into a showroom and buy a car. They will show you around and fix up a test drive — but you order online.

No salesmen on commission, and prices are fixed. Also, Polestar is refreshingly honest about the real environmental impact of today’s electric cars — and how it is pushing to be more sustainable and ultimately carbon neutral in the future.

Rob with Polestar 2 in the snow showroom

It took a month to build using 3,000 cubic metres of snow

But of all its “show space” installations, this 39ft (12-metre) cube is the most impressive. It took a month to build using 3,000 cubic metres of snow borrowed from a nearby ski resort in Rovaniemi, Finland, close to the Arctic Circle.

There’s a Polestar 2 inside, ice sculptures of car parts, and not much else. Very cool. Very clean. Very Polestar.

It was created as part of the Arctic Design Week and will be open for six weeks.

Polestar UK has show spaces in Manchester, Birmingham, Bicester and Batter-sea Power Station, with Glasgow and Bristol to open soon.

Go check them out — the reception will be much warmer.

Pictured in the showroom an ice wheel

You could also see the display of a suspension system

POLE DANCER

FOR me, the engine is the soul of a car.

Whether it’s got three, four, five, six, eight cylinders or more.
The sound of a car being hurried makes me happy. At the same time, I don’t think all electric cars are boring “white goods”.

This Polestar 2 most definitely is quick, it’s 400 horses

Polestar has pulled out all the stops to ensure Polestar 2 is as entertaining as it can be without a soundtrack

Lots of them are. But this Polestar 2 most definitely isn’t.
It’s quick. It’s 400 horses.

Which I admit is easy – electric cars have buckets of instant power.

The hard bit is making an electric car ride and handle like a normal car – and masking the extra weight.

Batteries aren’t light. Polestar has also pulled out all the stops to ensure Polestar 2 is as entertaining as it can be without a soundtrack.

It rides on adjustable Ohlins dampers. The brakes are Brembo. Two of the most reputable names in motorsport.

The 4WD system sends power wherever it needs it in milliseconds. The car feels composed and precise and comfortable. Everything on point. And it’s quiet.

The jewel in the crown is a Google tablet that just works

I’ve said it before, Polestar is your Swedish Tesla. But better. It has the build quality and panache only a firm with a long history of car-making can deliver.

The cabin, just like with sister firm Volvo, is modern and understated yet practical. The jewel in the crown is a Google tablet that just works.

And it feels safer than a padded cell. We tried Polestar 2 with the Performance Pack up near the Arctic Circle.

It was a lot of fun in the snow and ice and the f-f-f-cold temperatures didn’t totally kill the range, surprisingly.

If it works up there, it’ll work anywhere. Polestar 3, an electric SUV, arrives later this year.

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