Candela C-8 Polestar Edition. Hovering Above the Water
Polestar is a Swedish car manufacturer founded in 1996 under the name Flash Engineering, originally created to compete in touring-car racing. In 2015 the company was acquired by Volvo to enhance the performance and motorsport capabilities of its vehicles. Since then, Polestar has evolved into an independent brand within the Volvo Group, adopting its current name.
In 2017 the brand launched its first model, the Polestar 1, a hybrid performance coupe. Two years later came the Polestar 2, an all-electric fastback. That vehicle later inspired Polestar’s next all-Swedish collaboration—this time with Candela, a Stockholm-based boat manufacturer founded in 2014 with a clear vision: to build fully electric motorboats.
The result is the Candela C-8 Polestar Edition—a sleek, agile sport boat measuring 8.5 meters in length and 2.5 meters in beam. It is equipped with underwater hydrofoils that lift the hull above the surface, allowing the boat to effectively fly over the water. Once airborne, the ride becomes significantly smoother than that of a conventional boat, as waves of up to 1.1 meters simply pass beneath the hull.
Achieving this hovering effect requires both low weight and strong propulsion. The hull is constructed from carbon fiber, keeping the boat’s weight below two tons (1,750 kg). Power comes from the same battery system used in the Polestar 2, enabling a cruising speed of 22 knots (about 40 km/h) and a top speed of 27 knots (about 50 km/h).
The Candela C-8 accommodates seven passengers plus a driver. Rather than simply seating guests on an open deck for a short outing, the boat features a relatively spacious cabin below deck, capable of accommodating a small family overnight. The two front seats and the seating in the cabin are hand-stitched and inspired by the seats of the Polestar 2, offering a level of comfort rarely associated with sport boats.
Price: starting at $450,000
