It has only been two months since the oddly-named Polestones 01 was presented to the world and already, production has commenced with the first customer deliveries starting in November.
Polestones Automobiles has been brought to life by Rox Motor and Beijing Automobile Works (BAW) and the design of the 01 was handled by Pininfarina. The SUV is assembled at BAW’s factory.
Read: Polestones 01 Is China’s Answer To The Lexus GX And Land Rover Defender
While it would be reasonable to assume that the Polestones 01 would be all-electric, like so many other SUVs recently launched in China, that’s not actually the case. Instead, the 01 uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder acting as a range-extender and driving a pair of electric motors with 469 hp and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm) of torque. Each 01 rolling out of the factory is equipped with a 56 kWh battery pack that gives it up to 146 miles (235 km) of all-electric power. This range increases dramatically to 693 miles (1,115 km) with the range extender in operation.
Visually, the 01 has a very imposing presence thanks to its boxy shape and Land Rover Defender 130-inspired proportions. It is 5,050 mm (198.8 inches) long in six-seat guise or 5,295 mm (208.4 inches) long as a seven-seater while sporting a 3,010 mm (118.5-inch) wheelbase. There’s also plenty of impressive tech found within, including six cameras, five millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors as standard. Customers can also have it equipped with a more advanced driver-assistance system with three LiDARs and six additional cameras.
While the interior of the Polestones 01 isn’t particularly noteworthy, it is the only SUV we know of that has a small kitchen incorporated into the tailgate. Found within the tailgate are a small induction cooker, storage space to hold plates, bowls, and utensils, and even a water dispenser.
Car News China reports that prices for the 01 start at 349,900 yuan ($47,800) and top out at 359,900 yuan ($49,200).
