In October, the Polestar 1 will blow two candles off its birthday cake – but you still cannot find it at dealers. That’s because the Volvo-owned brand has taken its time developing and fine-tuning what is its first-ever standalone production model.

The Polestar 1 can trace its roots back to the 2013 Concept Coupe. Like the show car, it has a stunning two-door design and puts the Thor’s hammer headlights and C-shaped taillights to good use. These parts have since become a signature feature of other modern Volvos, yet none of them live up to the hype or the presence of the hybrid coupe.

Also Read: Chinese Plant Builds First 50 Polestar 1 Coupes, But They’re Not For Sale

Opening the door reveals a modern-looking cabin, jammed with a lot of equipment and technology features. On a second look, though, you will see that the interior has mostly been carried over from the XC60 and adorned with some carbon fiber trim that’s meant to make it look sportier. The steering wheel, seats, infotainment system and others are identical to the premium compact SUV, which is not a bad thing per se, though something a bit more unique wouldn’t go amiss.

There’s nothing to complain about when it comes to performance, though. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged and supercharged engine up front is assisted by two electric motors on the rear axle, which drive each wheel independently. For a car that weighs over 5,100 lbs (2,313 kg), or about the same as the new Bentley Continental GT, it’s extremely agile, thanks to the 600 PS (592 hp / 441 kW) and 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque of combined power.

Naught to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) takes about 4 seconds, which is not bad at all for a luxurious grand tourer. Plus, it can also travel in complete silence if you so wish, with the 34 kWh battery providing it with a zero-emission driving range of 150 km (93 miles).

The Polestar 1 doesn’t feature an air suspension but shock absorbers that can be adjusted not electronically, but by popping the hood open and rotating a knob. In spite of this old-school method, it’s very well balanced, with Polestar’s engineers having nailed that sweet spot between firmness and comfort. This, combined with the active rear axle, allows it to be pushed into a corner at relatively high speeds with great confidence.

And how do we know all that? Well, RoadShow were given access to a pre-production car in Sweden and took the opportunity to film their short review on the rain-soaked roads. And, pre-production or not, they came away very impressed.