An ‘estate’ variant of the Polestar 4 will spearhead a product offensive from the Swedish EV firm as it looks to overturn a financial slump – and the new model has now been caught testing in the UK.

Images sent to Autocar by reader Richard Jinks reveal a key difference compared with the existing coupé-SUV version of the 4. It has a conventional rear windscreen, something eschewed by the more rakish version in favour of a rear-view video camera. 

The reinstatement of rear glass gives the appearance of a more conventional SUV, which will add another string to the 4’s bow as it fights off strong competition from the new BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric.

From the front end, however, the two versions will be indistinguishable from one another. 

Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller previously said: “The Polestar 4 is a winning model, but some people want a bit more function and practicality: some people have dogs. It’s all the good things from the current car, but it’s a bit more practical.”

The estate is due to arrive later this year. It will take on the 4 name, while the existing car will be renamed the 4 Coupé. 

Under previous planning, the two variants were due to be built together in Busan, South Korea, so that they could sidestep prohibitive US tariffs on Chinese-built cars. It remains to be seen whether this will remain the case: Polestar was last week barred from the US market under cybersecurity rules designed to target Chinese- and Russian-made cars. 

Following the decision to end sales in the US, Lohscheller said Polestar would refocus on Europe and other markets in which it could grow, such as Asia, Latin America and Canada.

“The automotive industry is entering a new phase, based on regional dynamics,” he said.