New Chinese Luxury SUV Has Six Airline Seats And A Built-In Kitchen

A new中国称为Polesto启动汽车nes Automobile(not to be confused with Polestar, which is also Chinese-owned) just revealed its first model called the Polestones 01. Seriously, how will this not be confused with Polestar?

The name is completely derivative, as is the styling. Chinese automakers are known for being heavily "inspired" by existing models, which could explain why the Polestones 01 looks so much like aLand Rover Defenderand the boxy new Lexus GX. What we find odd is that this design comes from the Pininfarina Shanghai Team. We knowPininfarina can build some pretty cars, so why borrow so heavily from other manufacturers?

Its pedigree may be questionable at best, but the interior is anything but. Polestones will offer a practical seven-seat setup or a more luxurious six-seat layout with airline-style recliners in the second row. Rear passengers can lean back, relax, and watch a movie on the roof-mounted screen. There's even a camera mirror to ensure drivers can still see behind the car with the screen down.

The front and rear seats offer heating, ventilation, and massage if you get the six-seater. There's a large touchscreen mounted on the dash, which controls the concealed air vents (like a Tesla). An air purification system is included and can release negative ions.

Under the hood, the Polestones 01 utilizes a tiny 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine as part of the "range-extending power generation system." The engine doesn't drive the wheels but instead acts as a generator for the CATL battery pack.

The dual-motor setup produces 470 horsepower, and Polestones claims the car can travel 235 kilometers (146 miles) on electric power alone. Once the gas engine kicks on to extend the range, it will go 1,115 kilometers (692 miles). These numbers were achieved on the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), which typically yields higher ranges than the EPA test in the US.