Polestar has released new images of its Precept saloon concept, which hints at a future Tesla Model S rival expected to arrive in the next few years.

The concept, which was first unveiled in February, is described by Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath as a model which has real relevance to its forthcoming products.

He said: “Precept shows you where we will be heading - our design direction, our ambitions about sustainability and the great digital user experience we will bring with those future cars. Precept showcases our future, not as a fancy dream or something out of a sci-fi movie. This is our reality, to come."

The Precept is an electric, four-door grand tourer, previewing future design direction as well as highlighting the Swedish company’s plans for sustainable materials and advanced digital technology.

Along with the new images, the below video, presented by Ingenlath, shows the Precept in motion.

The Polestar 1, a limited-run plug-in hybrid coupé, and the Polestar 2, an electric fastback for the mass market, will shortly be followed by an electric SUV, the Polestar 3. The Precept, however, gives a broader hint at Polestar’s future design direction. The 1 and 2 were heavily guided by Volvo design, while the Precept is intended to demonstrate a move away from its parent firm’s styling influence.

The low, sleek silhouette has a lengthy wheelbase of 3.1 metres – some 150mm longer than that of the Model S – to allow for a large battery and “an emphasis” on rear head and leg room, Polestar claims. In place of a front grille, the Precept has a so-called Smartzone that houses sensors, cameras and driver assistance functions behind a transparent panel. A lidar pod is placed on the glass roof for best visibility and is intended to be “a next step towards increased driving assistance”.