Polestar, the electric vehicle brand owned by Volvo and Chinese automaker Geely, has just unveiled the updated version of its Polestar 2 sedan, and it’s set to be a fierce competitor for Tesla’s popular Model 3. The new Polestar 2 boasts a number of improvements over its predecessor, including an upgraded battery pack that increases its range to an estimated 300 miles for the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version, and 270 miles for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variant. This is a significant improvement over the previous model, which had a range of 270 miles for the single-motor version and 260 miles for the dual-motor version.
The new battery pack also allows for faster charging, with a rate of 205 kilowatts. This means that the Polestar 2 can charge to 80% in just 40 minutes, and 100% in less than an hour. The Model 3, on the other hand, is rated for 272 miles of range for the base $44,000 model, and 338 miles for the longest-range version.
The new Polestar 2 also comes with more powerful motors. The single-motor version now makes 299 horsepower, up from 231 in the previous model, and can hit 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. The all-wheel-drive version has even more power, cranking out 421 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to hit 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. Polestar has also re-calibrated the torque ratio in the dual-motor variant to increase the rear-wheel drive feel and enhance the driving experience.
In terms of design, the Polestar 2 gets a redesigned front end that houses its radar and forward-facing camera. The car also comes standard with much more driver-aiding tech, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera, which were all optional before. This is a smart move by Polestar, as it will help them to compete with Tesla’s tech-filled and Autopilot-enabled cars.
Polestar hasn’t released pricing for the new Polestar 2 yet, but it’s expected to start slightly above its current price of $48,400. One significant advantage of the Tesla Model 3 is that it qualifies for the federal EV tax credit of $7,500. However, the Polestar 2 isn’t made in North America and thus it isn’t eligible for the tax credit.
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