Electric car makes biggest design change in decades which could transform how all cars are made in future

Hold on to your hats guys as the motor industry is going through yet more changes.

If you would have asked someone 50 years ago if electric cars would ever be a thing, it's likely that they would have laughed in your face.

But fast forward to 2024 and, as of this year, there are over 2.5 million electric vehicles (EV) on US roads.

Tesla was arguably people's go-to EV at first, but Polestar is now hot on the heels of Elon Musk's car company.

Polestar

In 2017, the company announced that it would be focusing all of its attention on electric cars only and it recently released its highly anticipated Polestar 4 in the UK.

While it undeniably shares some similarities with Tesla's Model 3 vehicle, there's a key difference between the two cars: the Polestar 4 doesn't have a back window.

But how do you see behind you when you're driving, I hear you ask? Well, the new cars have cameras that do the looking for you.

A press release published in January by Polestar explained: "Thanks to the elimination of the rear window, the standard full-length glass roof stretches beyond the rear occupants’ heads, creating a unique interior ambience.

John Keeble/Getty Images

"A secondary media and climate control screen is mounted between the front seats to enable rear occupant control."

It continues: "The rear-view mirror is replaced by a high-definition screen that shows a real-time feed from a roof-mounted rear camera – enabling a far wider field of view than what can be experienced in most modern cars. The digital feed can be deactivated to allow drivers to instead see rear occupants if needed."

Now, as the Polestar 4 readies itself for release elsewhere in the world, people are only just learning of the innovative new design - and it's safe to say it's blowing people's minds.

The new EV is expected to be released in Australia in the not-so-distance future, but Aussie drivers have some concerns.

Polestar

One person penned below a 7News Australia news report on the new EV: "So what happens if the camera malfunctions?"

"I'll trust my own eyes over a computer any day," another said.

While others hailed the lack of rear window as 'stupid'.

But Polestar say that the removal of the window 'plays an integral safety role'.

Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar, said at the beginning of the year about the EV: "With Polestar Precept we previewed a stunning new occupant experience by removing the rear window and pushing the rear header, which plays an integral safety role, further back.

"This means that now, rear occupants can have a unique experience in our SUV coupé."

The car price ranges from £59,990 ($76,037) for a long range single motor model, or £66,990 ($84,909) for dual-motor.

Topics: News, Electric Cars, Cars, World News, Technology

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

@niamhshackleton