Overview:
Posh styling and an electrified powertrain converge on the enigmatic 2020 Polestar 1—the first car to come out of Volvo's now standalone performance brand. Essentially a two-door version of the luxurious Volvo S90 sedan, this hybrid sports coupe uses a mostly carbon-fiber body to save weight. The limited-production hybrid comes in only one trim, but it leaves you wanting for nothing. The 1 boasts an impressive electric-only range of 52 miles and will hold its own on a track, but that doesn't come cheap.

 Pricing:

  Polestar 1: $156,500

 Unlike the Porsche 911, the Polestar 1 offers few options. Which isn't all that surprising, given that the brand intends to produce only 1500 examples for the world. Buyers can have their choice of wheels and exterior and interior colors. That's it.

 Engine, Transmission, and Performance:
Up front, the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid has a turbo- and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor to make a combined 375 horsepower and drive the front wheels. Out back, a pair of electric motors, each producing 114 horsepower, drives the rear wheels. This combination provides all-wheel drive and develops a total system output of 619 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. That said, in EV mode, the 1 relies solely on the rear wheels, and in gas-only mode, the fronts take control. The engine is coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. What's more, this Polestar comes with ultrasticky 21-inch Pirelli P Zero tires, an electronically controlled suspension, a torque-vectoring rear differential, and big Akebono-sourced brakes. When we drove the 1, its performance attributes were on full display, the car espousing agility without a hint of understeer. Owners can adjust the damper settings, but they'll need to pop the hood and jack up the rear end to do so. And even then, the dampers struggle to make up for the 1's firm ride.