Electric car manufacturer Polestar has revealed a new concept car, the O2 roadster.

The Polestar O2 is a hard-top convertible designed as the automaker’s “vision of open-top performance… with all the benefits of electric mobility.” The O2, alongside electric performance, showcases the advances made in sustainability and technology.

Exact powertrain details are yet to be discussed. According to Polestar, the O2 is “designed to be lively, light and full of confidence.” The bespoke aluminum platform-- adapted from the Polestar 5-- is said to allow for tight control over the car’s movements. Different grades of aluminum are used in the chassis, achieved through a new method of recycling.

“Polestar O2 is the hero car for our brand,” comments Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “It opens the door to our secret chamber of future potential. This is a taste of what we can design and engineer with the talent and technology we have in-house. It looks incredible, and being able to lower the roof and not hear an engine promises a superb sensation.”

The lightweight and rigid design is combined with manipulated aerodynamics which maximize the vehicle’s range; integrated ducts improve laminar airflow across the body, and the rear lights double as special air blades cutting through aft turbulence. The 2+2 cabin seating and low, assertive stance are reminiscent of iconic sports car proportions, and the thin LED lights and sharp angles provide the modern touch of electrification. The O2 is said to share similar design language with the Polestar Precept concept car.

The cabin is made from a new thermoplastic “mono-material,” named as such due to its use of a single base material to manufacture different components. Recycled polyester is the sole material used for all soft components, simplifying recycling and reducing weight and waste.

And, as if electrification wasn’t futuristic enough, Polestar equipped the O2 with a special autonomous drone integrated behind the rear seats. This concept drone can be launched while the O2 is in motion, following the vehicle at speeds up to 90 kmh (55 mph). The purpose? To film scenic driving sequences to be shared via the internet. In fact, once the drone autonomously returns to the car, clips can be edited and shared directly from the cabin’s 15-inch center infotainment display.

Is the Polestar O2 a vehicle that is likely to see full-on production? That we cannot say; however, concept cars often serve as snapshots in automotive innovation and showcases for future vehicle-borne technologies. Expect to see similar technologies emerge in future vehicles, Polestar and others, in the near future.