The BRILLIANT Truth About Polestar's Design.... O2 Concept Analysis!

World renowned designer, Frank Stephenson, finally tells subscribers how he feels about Polestar's general design direction while analysing the O2 Concept.
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Hi all,
This week I'm finally giving you what a lot of you have request. An overview of how I feel about Scandi brand Polestar and its general design direction. They just released this O2 concept vehicle, so what better time than now to tell you how I really feel!
Enjoy,
Frank!
#FrankStephenson #Polestar #O2Concept

[@luisrpa123]

My highlight of the design of this car is the way they achieved a beautiful front with no grille. I think their trick is the way the front end is so pointy so that it can reflect the ground on the lower half, hiding the amount of painted plain bodywork. The proportions of this car say it's mid-engined under our usual expectations. Electric sportscars will likely tend to have this mid-engined look with a very short bonnet. I think it's actually too bad that we are going to lose the look of long bonnets and long prestige gaps the classic front-engined Grand Tourers have.

[@c3vzn]

That's a good point, the shadows do a good job of hiding the blank space. Clever design.

[@legendaxicad._]

Agreed. I do think it could be a pioneer for no-grille electric cars.

[@carloumbertocucchi1358]

Yes we’re going to loose the beautiful AMG GT look

[@AbiNubli]

I believe they still can do the GT look by stacking batteries in place of the engine and still has large frunk? Maybe has worst handling, I don't know

[@carloumbertocucchi1358]

@@AbiNubliI think it would be massively understeering

[@ItsTheNada]

I get 370z/400 vibes with a touch of mid engine proportions. Very good looking yet there is something clinical about it. For some reason it’s difficult to make a car look futuristic without this clinical/appliance-ish vibe occurring. For an EV though, they got it right. Communicates I run on a battery without being boring or the other extreme… overdone.

[@alphatrion100]

I see a little Lancia stratos in there

[@subarnosinha8042]

Glad I'm not the only one who sees 240/370/400Z cues in the design.

[@garfinkelc11]

@@subarnosinha8042 the proportions of the coupe remind me of the GT-R

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

I wouldn't call it clinical, I would call it Skandi. That design theory can look a little clinical, even in interior design.

[@shawnnaidoo5522]

I'm so glad I came across this comment. It is exactly what I through when I saw it. Very close to the 350/370 z cars

[@nobody-wk6ej]

Hey Frank, any thoughts on Koenigsegg??? The Gemera and Jesko are fun to look at!

[@bounceeer]

I think Regera is the best looking Koenigsegg

[@Hardistul]

Koenigsegg have some of the ugliest, boring, bland and uninspired sports cars design. Typical Scandinavian. The Ikea of hypercars.

[@jonathancarson1974]

Also curious about Koenigsegg. I find them terrible...

[@nopota7290]

@@Hardistul mhm yeah, ugly, boring, bland and uninspired is truly "typical scandinavian". It's the polar opposite, your opinion is as confusing as someone saying that water is fire.

[@Hardistul]

@@nopota7290 You can say a lot of positive things about Koenigsegg, but their design isn't one of them. Seriously. Cardboard boxes with wheels and a cabin afterthought mounted on top. Something a 1st year student using a CAD software would come up with.

[@bounceeer]

I have a 2019 V60 and i am very excited with the direction the Volvo "group" is going. Polestar is a very cool brand, hope they find a solid market share.

[@fritsmolenaar05]

almost all tesla 3's in my town have been replaced with polestar 2's so they'll be fine

[@KentBuchla]

You mean “The Chinese CCCP owned Geely Group”.

[@jensdevos897]

Oh man i am loving the critics/opinions of this man. The combination of passion and experience is a gift towards this platform.

[@portnaluinge]

I’m so glad you mentioned the Stratos as that comparison leapt out at me in the side view. I find what Polestar are doing really refreshing. They’re so different from the prevailing trend of fussy surfacing and fake vents, grills etc.

[@miguellopez3392]

It's a EV it has to reduce drag as much as it can.

[@thecoishiking5768]

Ive always been obsessed with this idea of creating the "perfect design" where its both exciting and majestic, with every line being crucial towards making it timeless in a sense. I think I may have found myself a new gold standard to hold that to.

[@anxheloripa449]

I love this car. Absolutely gorgeous. Looks fairly futuristic which is what tesla has absolutely failed at. Better manufacturing and just ridiculous design. Everything seems well thought

[@legendaxicad._]

I agreed. Very well thought and Futuristic looking.

[@nightdriver7216]

The latest Model S looks great. If anyone needs to replace designers, it's BMW.

[@dominicporter5100]

@@nightdriver7216 That or get whoever designed the 5 Series to work on the other models. That, I think, is the only decent-looking model they have.

[@toddr.lockwood843]

The Model S looked quite futuristic when it appeared in 2012. Franz von Holzhausen, its designer, purposely kept the design sober and restrained. Ten years later, after minimal exterior rework, the Model S still looks purposeful. The upcoming Tesla Roadster is a very beautiful, muscular design.

[@ndsoo9865]

İ have to disagree. Teslas has intruduced electric vehicles. İf they instantly made flying saucers their company would have failed. Also tesla is way longer into buisness than polestar and their car were designed in an earlier era. İ thing teslas designs are great. Now, if you look at the cybertruck you'll laugh at the attempt of polestar trying to look futuristic.

[@nicofonce]

For this car I would put my money down. Very beautiful yet very different. 10/10

[@protocetid]

Didn’t know Volvo headlights are an homage to Mjolnir! The O2’s light signature up front is certainly inventive and unique.

[@heidelbergaren5054]

It’s literally mentioned five times in every Volvo press release

[@sweetbon76]

The Thor's hammer has been a signature for Volvo's headlights for a while now and can also be seen on the Polestar 1 and 2. On the upcoming Precept concept (what's to be Polestar 5) Polestar differentiate itself, breaking up the Thor's hammer into the star signature that's derived from Polestar's logo.

[@Kairosdex]

I LOVE the wheels. I find car wheels are starting to look too samey, and it's getting very stale. But these are unique and pleasing to look at. Great job by polestar!

[@stefanegger]

True, futuristic but not impossible or crazy. The only thing that probably is a big no no if they are not mounted 100% the same front and back each side so it looks good on the promo shots but maybe weird in real life. I guess that is one reason people don't do such designs, it would look like you had an accident in non showroom/rendering condition.

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

@@stefanegger Nani!?

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

I want these wheels on my next car.

[@dxmaqe8142]

congrats on 200k man

[@benhooper1956]

200k Milestone reached! Congrats my friend very well deserved 🎉

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Thanks Ben!

[@tomcarroll3338]

Thanks for reviewing the Polestar. It’s one of the best new car designs I’ve seen in a long time. Another new car in the EV segment I’d love to see you review is the Lucid Air.

[@KentBuchla]

One of China’s best!

[@reitsmaassociates]

Great review Frank! Thanks for taking the time to go through this one. Fresh but not threatening, controlled pen strokes and just enough edge to be a truly desirable car - well done Polstar . Cheers from Brisbane

[@StefanMarjoram]

Cool car and I really like Polestar's design. One thing that jumped out at me though was the glass - it screams Saab to me. Perhaps it's the wraparound shape created by the 'invisible' A pillar. Definitely a bit of Aero X influence.

[@gerardmontgomery280]

I love how it looks and how Polestar's production cars looks. Tesla doesn't do it for me, bland cars with overly large greenhouses but Polestar's stuff is stunning. I guess this represents the extreme of having a designer in charge vs an engineer in charge.

[@DainHunter]

Teslas are so simplistic to look at, i want to say boring. I need those artistic lines of the design choice like Polestar just massively did

[@gingertronix]

Hi Frank I absolutely love your channel and generosity in sharing your time and design insights! I am an Industrial Designer from Ireland and the Datsun 240z is my favourite car design. Would love to see you do a review of the old school 240z Vs the new 400z remake!! Thank you 🙏

[@jonodeee_]

Thank you so much for doing this review Frank!! I absolutely love this car and the design language Polestar are exploring - it is the perfect embodiment of modern Scandinavian! I'm glad you like it too!

[@cotsice]

This looks like Ferrari redesigned Nissan's Z car, and I'm hopeful they can keep this look when it's time to go to production.

[@dleetr]

Yeah i was thinking Nissan Z too. Shame all these cars have to be heavy battery.beasts. Hopefully we transition past globalism at some point to the new old normal.

[@sneaky_krait7271]

And to me it is like Lamborghini's version of the 911

[@wyskass861]

Before hearing from Frank, my initial thoughts.. I'm quickly reminded of Nissan Z, especially from side and rear a bit of Cadillac. I think due to the tall flat side panels and the accent vertical fender vent. While you don't want your design to remind of another car, the balance seems right. Communicates stability with stance, thinking confidence on the road. LED angles signify modernity. I find it nice and solid and current looking, but not future looking. I find design cues not new and there isn't enough unique character to it. Good but not outstanding IMO.

[@Luckytee24]

Great review, Frank! Very insughtful! Greetings from Switzerland

[@JYD_esign]

Loved all your points, I was hoping you'd compare it to the precept as well. It's a beautiful design. Perfect balance between emotional surfacing and product design.

[@ljmz79]

Nice review! I love the look of this car and the whole design language of Polestar. I do need to point out that the light design is not based on a Marvel character but the actual Norse mythology. The Viking god and his hammer date back much farther than the recent popular culture and comics. I guess the true history should not be news to anyone but to me mentioning Marvel sounded little off in the video.

[@andreaconsitt2677]

Great review 🙏

[@AlienatedNortherner]

Excellent review, Mr Stephenson!

[@xaviermelendez2639]

Great review, Frank--always with clear and concise insights into *the why* behind various design choices. Choices, at the concept phase, that are in many ways driven by strategic business considerations as much as by the art of it. Kudos to Polestar (and corporate parents, Volvo and Geeley), for delivering on a fresh new approach to human transportation, à la an EV sports car.

[@atharvapande1373]

Hey Frank! your videos are amazing. You always talk about emotions like - reliability, strong, etc, can you talk about how to decode it? meaning, how is reliability shown physically onto the design of the car ?

[@ab_31000]

We have asked on instagram to review this car. So can't wait to watch this analysis

[@creato938]

To be fair, i wish this car reached production, it looks distinct yet clean, maybe without that much glass but it would be cool either way.

[@bruhinthebruhwiththebruh1370]

Congratulations on 200k, Frank!!!

[@lorenzosparacio1184]

Hi there! I really appreciate your videos and your ideas about car design. About the O2, I briefly looked at some pictures on a car mag when it was launched and I immediately thought “Wow! Polestar’s design, in general, is very well done.”

[@NOSFERATU_ONE]

Congrats on 200k

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Thanks!

[@manueledelisio]

Hey, great analysis! It's amazing to see how old-ish Volvo concept cars like the 3CC and YCC still have an impact on the design language of Polestar's future models.

[@DainHunter]

Every artist needs a inspiration ;)

[@dendije6041]

Great review Frank!

[@robro902]

The thumbnail is intriguing

[@chuckmiller7294]

Recently watched your 'chasing perfect' documentary I would definitely recommend.

[@Fureddo28]

Another great video! I really love PoleStar design language. The Scandinavian/minimalistic approach really does it for me; yet it’s aggressive and bold in a way. One thing though, I can’t help thinking of the Nissan Fairlady Z when I see the car on the side view.😆

[@Alex-cw3rz]

Brilliant Video

[@marcel6234]

Can you comment your design perspective on the Lucid Air. Would be great to hear your thoughts!

[@budja1501]

Congrats on 200k subs!

[@FrankStephensondesign]

👍

[@EGmvka99]

You’re absolutely right ! Great video

[@Ben-Rogue]

The consistency of the design and really committing to the design language is what I feel makes it work so well. A lot of newer cars are a mish-mash of shapes that don't work (New BMW M2)

[@williammalamas8367]

Congratulations on 200K Subs! Hopefully you`ll release a celebration video

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Thanks!

[@marfrandema1884]

Congrats on 200k SUBS!

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Thanks!

[@VSKPF00]

Since more than a few Saab employees moved to Polestar it makes sense that this car look a lot like a Saab 9x Air.

[@captain_crunk]

Hey Frank, do you have any thoughts on anti-patterns in design? I'm a software engineer and sometimes it's just as important to know exactly what not to do, and I'm curious if similar concepts exist in the design world.

[@derekliu6680]

As an engineering student, I love the input from a design standpoint. It's always interesting hearing what the other side of the fence has to say. I'm surprised you haven't done a video on the Jaguar F Type though(I'm a big fan of the 2014-2017 models because I feel like they're the most distinct). Cheers

[@Yooo_its_storm]

when i first saw the side view, it reminded me of the Scion tc, so i went and pulled up a picture of the Polestar 02 and the tc next to each other on a side view and they both had many details that looked similar. Details such as the rear bumper, front bumper, window shape, and length of the car.

[@hermannisavolainen8328]

Great video as always! Would be nice to hear your thoughts on the new VW buzz

[@AlexSchwartzATV]

The black A pillars are so cool. I would literally not change anything about this thing. It's just pure and gorgeous.

[@shirinchepirinche]

Informative video Car is breath taking.

[@fahdkz6302]

Good quality video. Lucid Air design review next please

[@swagking9961]

Thanks for the video frank!

[@alexwright6212]

I like their direction and that the brands look is refined more and more with each design. Soon it will be instantly recognisable.

[@ryanguercio7061]

I love it and the Honda e. I am not an electric car person but love these two. Love the channel and all your work. I was a client advisor for BMW in NJ for 7 years.

[@FrankStephensondesign]

👍

[@ahmetemreyilmaz]

Chunky and almost monolithic wheels on this car made me so excited because cars, nowadays, have rims that have so many thin spokes that are sometimes not even colored but just marked with a few white thin lines. These are, however, looking pretty solid

[@iternityhuman1782]

Give the design team a Big fat Raise!!!!!

[@bigdhav]

Absolutely smashing it. Love it.

[@user-xt7rs8md7p]

It’s a beautiful design Very different and exciting Great review

[@GG-of9og]

congrats on the 200k

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Thanks!

[@freekfaro5606]

Certainly with the assistance of your explanation Frank, my appreciation for this design.skyrocketed! Purity, honesty, Scandinavian, product design vs car design, Italian subtlety and sensitivity, thanks Frank!

[@FrankStephensondesign]

👍

[@CrazyWeeMonkey]

While normally I would agree that the difference between concept and production cars is too severe to give a concept a design grade, have you seen the Polestar concepts and production versions? They look almost identical to their concept versions (better in some ways even). I've got to say, the first thing that jumped out at me when seeing it for the first time was the Nissan R35 GTR roofline, it's done so well that it still looks gorgeous in both top-down and top-up configs. Most other hard-top convertibles (i.e Porsche 911 convertible) look chunky at the rear with the top down, while this one still looks sleek.

[@mspolj1]

As a industrial designer I find this video the best so far as it relates to my profession, please do some videos on product design. Thank you for the chanell and all you do, I learn a lot listening to your toughts wich I find refreshing. This project is exciting to look at as I belive we are in an era where industrial and car design are coming closer with emerging autonomous vehicles.

[@FrankStephensondesign]

👍

[@artistonamotorbike]

I love the way the thin black lines on the wheels align with the shutlines.

[@user-yd4rn4ez6m]

Reminds me of the cyberpunk 2077 cars a bit, but more elegant and refined. Great car and great analysis

[@Real_MisterSir]

Volvo/Polestar and Norse mythology: Thor, the god of thunder and protector of mankind Frank: Thor, Scandinavian Marvel figure Idk I just find this so funny :D

[@FrankStephensondesign]

My bad, I know and I have total respect for Thor, always have. Even before Marvel days… 😉💪

[@Real_MisterSir]

@@FrankStephensondesign I can imagine, after all the two of you have quite a bit in common! Love your take on the Polestar design philosophy by the way, especially the emphasis you put on their ability to add emotion to their lines and separate themselves from traditional product design.

[@VinWeiLee27171]

I like it, it's beautiful, but definitely not quirky or exiting. It's like a good looking dentist who smoke, skydive, triathlon and got 6-packs, but still a dentist...

[@DEMediaDrive]

Time to increase the investment in this brand. Future looking bright. 👌

[@MattUK36]

The car is beautiful, but Lanzarote's landscape is absolutely stunning 🇪🇦😍👌🏻

[@unknown81360]

Totally in love with the design of this car except for the very harsh back/rear including the tail lights

[@rolandmdill]

Wow that car looks spectacular! Love it

[@goranstanisavljevic5634]

Mark 10! The design is perfect!

[@GMss101]

I didn’t realise Polestar came from Volvo. Interesting!

[@richardhunt809]

It’s beautifully proportioned. I like the thin camera wing mirrors. Very aerodynamic but probably gives better visibility than traditional mirrors, with no blind spot.

[@davidjones1619]

I like it, hopefully it'll look like this when it goes into production and not change too much. 👍

[@paulelverstone8677]

I'm a big fan of folded paper designs so enjoy this one a lot, and I'll admit, I didn't know a thing about the O2 until I clicked on this vid. All the style signatures being projected I enjoy. They're new and fresh and somehow, very Scandinavian too. Both Saab and Volvo have always been a bit left of centre for me and this is no different. Side profile looks a little dumpy to me - I feel that the wheelbase could be a tad longer - but love the trailing roofline and nice to see a pair of (flattened) butteresses on the convertible. I'd like to know a bit more about its packaging. Assuming this is a full EV then for a 2+2, I'd want to know where everything fits. Look forward to the road-going version...

[@cornishrider]

I agree with the other comments of some Nissan Z influences and perhaps Ferrari at the front. Overall a very pleasing design and I think they are heading in a positive direction as more fluid than the previous models.

[@higurro]

They really seem to be leaning on the volume of the wheels and arches, with that low horizontal line at the front seeming a clever way of pulling back negative space underneath at the front (and back) to suggest airflow without big grilles and vents, which I love. Very un-BMW

[@fluxcapacitor]

Another designer pointed out that the 0₂ lines have a striking resemblance to Daniel Simon's futuristic artwork and concepts (see e.g. the machines, weapons, architecture and costumes across the Oblivion movie). Which is very good!

[@adolfosexto]

Would love to watch your intake on assymetrical car desings

[@chrispie1]

said some words about how he liked it when discussing cyberpunk cars

[@realhkv4082]

Great video , would love to see your opinions on cars from the game Rocket league

[@LW-qe8nk]

Wow well said

[@baloosd]

Please share your thoughts on Glickenhaus' Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina.

[@AApone]

The production versions can be even more compelling when it still looks incredible despite production compromises. Curious to see if the accent lights will still look sexy.

[@OmDahake]

Can you comment on the design of the Lotus Evija

[@meantares]

I like the design at first sight, but somehow it doesn’t get me that excited. Looks a bit too clinical, maybe? I’ll wait for the production version. I find that Polestar 2 looks great on the road. This one too needs to be seen on the road.

[@alfamonk]

Agree, it's almost devoid of curvature - feels clean but a bit emotionless to me

[@untitled795]

It’s been rinse and repeat on different proportions for the past 5 years, clinical is almost too nice of a word

[@alonsocordaro4880]

Hola Frank, primero que todo espero te encuentres muy bien. Ojalá puedas en otro video hablar sobre lo que piensas con respecto a las fotos espias que acaban de salir a la luz sobre el sucesor del Aventador.

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Buen tema para otro día Alonso.

[@Charlie-nb1xo]

on my automotive and trasnport design course everyone I've talked to agrees with you on the honda E. Also please look at the new morgan 3 wheeler because one of my lecturers was actually on the design team

[@LiveTorsionParadoxTo]

I don't think that product design or product design elements are antithetical to notions or expressions of passion and I think that this Polestar design is actually very heavily influenced (not subtly influenced) by, not only modern product design, but in particular modern electronics and appliances. These are fitting references in the design language of an era of emergent electric sports cars. Sports cars, particularly in their early history, represented cutting edge technology, not nostalgia or tradition. I think this is a refreshingly honest and intelligent modern successor to that history of innovation in automotive design. It's the spirit of a sports car, not the slavish adherence to superficial detail or form, that makes for a good design reference to the past. This allows for new expressions to be grounded while also looking forwards. In their subtle, grown-up approach to design, Polestar have been demonstrating that passion, relevance and refined, disciplined design can be done, even in the automotive industry, even now. Long overdue - well done Polestar!

[@RundFyrkant]

there's some really nice looking and interesting cars coming out from the hill in Volvocity. i think this one looks fabulous. can't waiting to se it in person.

[@jacobgrigalashvili2156]

Where do you get all your model cars from? Great video👌

[@FrankStephensondesign]

Thanks! Different companies, mostly 1:18 scale though.

[@kiwihame]

Yes! Just love the 02. Not a thing I'd change. Remove the drone and it's perfect. Love the roofline especially.

[@CerberaSagaris]

Lovely design, they should build it. Good to see the kept the hammer, but gave it a twist.

[@BodenM]

The proportions of the O2 especially from the side view give me strong SW20 Toyota MR2 vibes. On Polestar's production-intent concepts, if you take a look at the Polestar Precept, and then the production version the Polestar 5, there's been surprisingly minimal changes from the concept to the production version, mostly just minor tweaks like the wheels being slightly smaller, conventional rear doors instead of suicide doors, etc.

[@socal_chris5105]

This is my ultimate dream car. I can’t say enough about the design. I think it’s gorgeous. I love the transitions between surface materials. The edge treatments and lack of exterior surface trim creates a sleek, modern, look that is unique. It’s so beautiful up close !!

[@strigani-gaming]

Awesome review, as always. I think this headlight signature breaks away from Volvo and it’s Thor hammers. Flip both headlight clusters to the inside and you’ll get a star shape, which ofcourse matches the design language of the brand.

[@FrankStephensondesign]

👍

[@automotivetales]

I’m no designer but wow this car is good - not a bad view, not a bad feature (although the drone is silly - the design alone does the talking). To me, one of the best, most coherent concepts I’ve seen for a very long time! Truly a work of art!

[@BUEAU]

Polestar O2 is masculine muscular and feminine sleek... Spot on. Almost as beautiful as you, my Frank. We need to break bread.

[@babumoshai6191]

Can you do a video about the emering trend of looking at car like an electronic gadget and the rise of UX designer role in car design Thanks