Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup Polestones has revealed its first model, a seven-seat SUV with Land Rover Defender-like styling penned by famed Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina.
The Polestones 01, or as it's known in China, the Jishi 01, will reportedly be available in two different lengths with a choice of six- or seven-seat layouts.
Autocar Professional reports all versions of the Polestones 01 feature a range-extender powertrain, with two electric motors - one on each axle - teamed with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
According to Chinese media reports, total outputs are 350kW of power and 740Nm of torque, with the 01 able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds.
Electric-only range is reportedly said to equal 234km on the CLTC cycle. With the petrol engine serving as a generator however, range rises to a claimed 1113km.
The battery is supplied by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and has 56kWh of capacity.
The Polestones 01 reportedly boasts a large suite of standard active safety features, powered by six cameras, five millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and one roof-mounted and two side-mounted LiDAR units.
Its interior features a deployable kitchen in the tailgate which includes an induction cooktop and water dispenser.
This kitchen is protected by a fold-out gazebo that is integrated into the roof of the car and can be assembled in five minutes.
On the six-seat version, the second row features individually reclining seats. A roof-mounted dropdown screen continues the airliner theme inside.
You can also reportedly opt for a seven-seat version whose seats can fold out into a king-sized bed configuration. This version extends the total length of the vehicle from 5050mm to 5295mm.
As well as the exterior design bearing a striking resemblance to the Land Rover Defender, its exterior dimensions are also similar with the Defender 110 measuring 5018mm long and the Defender 130 measuring 5358mm long.
Polestones is an EV startup owned by Rox Motor, which is also relatively new to the automotive landscape.
Rox Motor was founded by Chang Jing in 2021. He also owns Roborock, a company that specialises in vacuum cleaners.
Polestones' leading suppliers are well-known in the industry however, with Bosch, CATL, Continental, Valeo and Pininfarina contributing to the project in various ways.
The Polestones 01 will reportedly be contract manufactured by Beijing Automobile Works.
It's unknown if Polestones has plans for the Australian market, but it joins a bevy of other boxy Chinese off-roaders that have recently emerged - all featuring a distinctly Defender-like theme to their styling.
This includes the likes of the Tank 300 and Haval Raptor from GWM, the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard 5 and Yangwang U8 from BYD, and the Jetour Traveller and iCar 03 from Chery.
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