Volvo’s performance division Polestar has been quietly beavering away at R&D, developing a line of luxury performance cars that will make them a significant competitor to established performance brands from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes. And now, Tesla.

Earlier this year, Volvo revealed the Polestar-modified XC60 crossover, which pushes 421 horsepower; it was hailed as the most powerful Volvo ever produced. They also promised a roughly 600-horsepower sports sedan by autumn, the Polestar 1. This week, in Shanghai, they delivered.

Polestar as a performance division is unique in that associated models will bear no overt indication of Volvo affiliation. Initially, it was suggested that the Volvo emblem—the ‘iron mark’—would be displayed on the grille of Polestar models, but the sedan below is, as of now, without it. That makes sense, as Polestar is possibly being positioned to supplant Volvo itself by the end of the next decade, when all-electric vehicles and subscription services will likely define the industry.

As the image of the brand, the car—a grand tourer—is intended to impress, and it does. Cosmetics are unusual, with grille, front splitter and air intakes all offering different patterns for more visual interest than expected. The car’s lines and overall shape appear to be quite original, keeping the faith with the classically individual Volvo design ethos.

Most importantly, though, are the capabilities of the hybrid drivetrain, and the all-electric range of the Polestar 1. The substantial horsepower rating is achieved with a four-cylinder Volvo E-Drive ICE and a pair of electric motors for the rear wheels.

Polestar is understandably proud of the 1’s 90-mile electric-only range; the rating makes it currently tops for production vehicles. They indicated a fundamental hybrid-powertrain paradigm shift, from electric-supported ICE to ICE-supported electric vehicles, as a phase in the transition to all-electric.

As a limited-production model—the 1 will be limited to only 500 examples annually—the model is being positioned as the face of Polestar, and the division’s desire to position itself at the avant-garde of the rapidly changing industry.

Like all Polestar models, it will also be available by online subscription only, and will not be available for outright ownership. Test-drives will be available at separate Polestar locations only, and never through Volvo dealerships. Volvo’s parent company Geely may be looking down the road a decade or more, to a point when Polestar’s market relevance as a brand name has eclipsed Volvo’s. The new Polestar production facility in China will satisfy demand in the first phase of the division’s existence.

Polestar 1 will be available in mid-2019, and followed by models 2 and 3, each in turn. Polestar 2 will be a midsize sedan, available late 2019; Polestar 3 will be a large SUV, and is currently being designed.