Polestar 2 gets new look, more power - and RWD
Updated Polestar 2 promises better agility - and up to 395 miles of range. What's not to like?
When we reported on the return of the rear-drive Volvo last week, it was more with a sense of bemusement than in the expectation of something new and exciting happening to the XC40. And that wasn’t just us - Volvo itself made no claim of improved dynamism from its previously front-drive electric SUV. For the Polestar 2, however, which shares the car’s platform, the tone is a little different: “Changing from front- to rear-wheel drive in the single-motor variants, and re-calibrating the torque ratio in the dual-motor variant for an increased rear-wheel drive feel, elevates the Polestar 2 driving experience to a whole new level,” says Joakim Rydholm, Head of Chassis Development at Polestar.
“The updated Polestar 2 is an even more playful and agile car, retaining its compactness and complete sense of control, while at the same time becoming more mature with added comfort.” This is more like it. The original Polestar 2 was worthy enough, but 'playful' it was not. Whether or not Polestar pushed for such a fundamental alteration is unclear, but undoubtedly it is to the brand’s wider benefit - both in terms of market position, and (we can but hope) performance. Helpfully, the latter has benefitted from a boost, too: the single-motor car’s output is up to 272hp in the £44,950 starter model. Plump for the 'long range' version with the larger 82kWh battery, and you get 299hp. Which is sufficiently punchy for the 0-62mph time drop to a spritely 6.2 seconds.
Of course, it’s the upgrading of the batteries which is at least as important as any fiddling with the motor or inverter. Even if you stick with the standard 69kWh LG-made one, Polestar quotes up to 322 miles of range when measured the WLTP way. But it’s the larger, updated 27-module CATL-supplied unit that you really want; hooked up to the rear-axle motor alone, it offers up to 395 miles of silent running. And that’s really quite a lot. In fact, it’s more than Tesla claims for the Long Range version of the Model 3 - and at £48,950, the Polestar 2 is a smidge cheaper.
It is quite a lot slower, too, mind. But if that’s a concern, there is always a brace of dual-motor iterations to consider. These share the 82kWh battery, but drastically ramp out the output and add AWD to the mix. Again, much like Volvo’s efforts, the more expensive models are said to have benefited from a ‘completely re-balanced drivetrain setup and torque-ratio’ - which means that the back axle motor is the beefy one, supported by a new asynchronous motor at the front. Polestar doesn’t specify the power split, but the combined output is up to 421hp as standard, or 476hp if you opt to pay the £5k premium that buys the Performance Pack.
The additional clout gets you a slightly quicker 0-62mph time (4.2 versus 4.5 seconds) although on the basis that peak torque remains the same at 546lb ft, we’d be inclined to save our money - particularly as the Performance Pack (fancier wheels aside) is to be made available as an over-the-air downloadable upgrade, should you feel you need the extra grunt. Regardless, both dual-motor models will now surreptitiously disengage the forward motor when it isn’t needed (another reason why the one at the back is the larger of the two) thereby improving range, which is now claimed to be up to 368 miles for either variant.
As well as being physically quicker, the latest Polestar 2 ought to charge a bit faster, as well. Thanks to improved cell chemistry, the manufacturer says the 69kWh battery will accept 135kW, with the 82kWh one now up to 205kW. And if that weren’t enough, there’s the prospect of a lightly modified front end, which brings the updated model in line with the design language introduced by the Polestar 3. The firm likes to call the styling alterations ‘SmartZone’ because it incorporates a plethora of camera and radar-based safety features - but let’s forgive it that eye-rolling moment, and reflect instead on a faster, rangier, cleverer, potentially more playful and arguably better looking Polestar 2. Expect deliveries to kick off later this year.
Car wise, looks decent enough on all fronts, I'd have one.
The central square shape in the 'grille' area looks really bloody odd. You'd have to order the car in black just to hide that aesthetic disaster.
Good range though, if it achieves that. Hopefully options for the future.
Good range though, if it achieves that. Hopefully options for the future.
My Polestar 2 with the performance software (claimed 4.2) is certainly quicker than my friends M3 LR from a roll-on. Even against a M3P it only pulled maybe 2 car lengths from a 20 - 100mph pull...
Tesla's do seem to launch harder for some reason however once you get going they aren't as quick as the 0-60 on paper time suggests from experience.
Infotainment for me day to day is better on the Polestar, it doesn't have as much added novelty crap as a Tesla but the base system I find easier to use i.e. Spotify, Maps etc. as I have owned both plus it also has the speedo screen which I much prefer.
Model 3 does 250kwh vs 205kwh however it only does that peak for about 20% of the charge, its the charge curve that will be more interesting. However the fact most "fast chargers" are 50kwh or 150kwh makes it pretty pointless anyway.
Overall, this seems a solid update. I get around 200-220 in winter and 250-270 in summer at best/worse so if this adds 50 real-world miles to these figures then it will certainly make it competitive for a few more years.
- Colour coded front Front grill not to my taste
- FWD to RWD hardly makes a 2 ton car "sporty"
- Digital key and foot/boot sensor were free, now only in the £4k Plus pack.
- Battery remains 69kWh for the base model
For the lolz or pub bragging maybe but for everything else, if it can lift its skirts in under what, say, 7/8seconds, it's plenty zippy enough for 'normal' people in the 'real' world.
As an aside, most EVs owners seem to be sat doing 50/60mph in the inside lane. Thankfully I am not one of them...
k yourselves google New BEV - lots of positive comments about the ‘new normal’, the site is going the right way for their investment made so far, so as to yield those future revenues in a BEV world.
A thread literally massacring the M3 Touring. (apart from a few of us!)
Excitement about ‘software’ and ‘electric motors’, and a bit more or less ‘range’..?
The PH transformation plan must be nearing completion.
Hum ho….
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