Volvo details Polestar 1 carbon-fiber construction

A composite body helps the car shed 507 pounds compared to a steel shell.

Volvo has highlighted the upcoming Polestar 1's extensive use of carbon fiber.

Most of the flagship hybrid's body panels are built from carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), producing an overall weight savings of more than 500 pounds compared to a traditional steel body.

The lightweight composite material has been used for the hood, trunk lid, side panels, doors and entire roof structure. Its 'dragonfly' -- a key component for torsional stiffness -- is also CFRP.

"When you combine this strengthened framework with the super-strong body and roof structure, you get a stiff and communicative chassis which translates driver input into superb driving characteristics," says Polestar product creation head Christian Samson.

The 2+2 grand tourer coupe promises 600 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Volvo expects to begin manufacturing the car by mid-2019.