Polestar will reveal their next model at the Geneva International Motor Show. The Polestar 2 will compete with other high performance EVs, including the Tesla Model 3. BOOM! That sound you heard was a huge warning shot right across the bow of Elon Musk’s yacht. To quote directly from Polestar: “Polestar 2 is the first electric car to compete in the marketplace around the Tesla Model 3, with the range starting at a guide price of 39,900 euros.” You best get your ducks in a row Elon. First Audi poses a challenge, now the latest from Polestar. Bringing Out The Big Guns To get you up to speed, Polestar is Volvo’s performance arm, sort of like the Scandy version of BMW’s M division or Merc’s AMG. Polestar is also, much like Porsche’s upcoming Taycan, getting into electric vehicles in a big way. And this is a good thing, unless your name is Elon Musk. Teslas are, for all intents and purposes, good cars, but they have also had it kind of easy. Who has been competing against them? The Nissan Leaf? The Chevy Bolt? Please. Now the big guns like Porsche and Audi, and in our case here, Polestar, are taking them on and doing it in no half measure. The Polestar 2 is an all-electric fastback that hopes to bring electric performance cars to a broader audience. And, with a list price around $45,500, that puts it right in Tesla Model 3 territory. Even more importantly, that figure won’t break the bank for the average performance car buyer. Battery Packs & Performance Tech The Polestar 2 is powered by two electric motors and “fueled” by a 78 kWh battery. The range should be 500 kilometres, or right around 300 miles or so. Did I mention performance? I should, because the Polestar 2 is quick. Zero to 60 in less than five seconds, thanks to all-wheel drive, 408 horsepower, and 487 lb-ft. of torque. That time becomes even more impressive when you consider the inherent weight penalty of the battery pack. The 27-module battery pack and drivetrain are built around Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture platform, a bright move from a manufacturing standpoint. The battery pack lives in the floor and contributes to the rigidity of the chassis. This will improve the car’s noise, vibration, and harshness levels while lowering the center of gravity; always a good thing. Chassis dynamics are regulated via Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes, and 20-inch forged wheels. The seat belts, brake calipers, and valve caps are gold, which they say is a “signature” that completes the performance visuals. No, I don’t exactly get that one either. Polestar says they have the “important question of charging” figured out via an extensive approach. The Polestar 2 uses in-car and mobile devices to help drivers find public charging networks. Think of it as Google Maps optimized to find any and every charging station on the planet. And Speaking of Google . . . Polestar 2 is one of the first cars to embed an infotainment system powered by Google’s Android OS. This Android backbone provides a robust and flexible digital environment for apps and vehicle functions to coexist. It also brings embedded Google services to a car for the first time. These include Google Assistant, Google Maps (with support for electric vehicles), and the Google Play Store. You can tell your Polestar what to do with either voice control, or an 11-inch touchscreen display. Also, it’s pretty implicit here that “Phone-as-Key” technology will be an option as well. The Polestar 2 will sense the driver upon approach and turn itself on, activating features in a customized way. Neat! The Polestar 2 also has some slick design elements here and there, such as Pixel LED headlights and proximity lighting with a unique welcome sequence. There are frameless side mirrors and an illuminated Polestar logo that reflects onto the car’s panoramic glass roof. Pricing & Availability As with all other Polestars, the 2 can only be ordered online. It’s like Amazon. You choose and configure your Polestar 2 via a website, plunk down your 40-thou via bank transfer, and then they’ll deliver it to you. Or you visit a nearby Polestar Space, staffed by non-commissioned representatives. Either way, production of the Polestar 2 begins early next year. Initial launch markets include China, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK. MSRP for the launch edition Polestar 2 is $63,000 – less the federal incentive of $7,500. Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. Polestar 2 Gallery Photos & Source: Polestar.<doc-sep>Polestar is taking on Tesla. The brand, jointly owned between Volvo Car Group and Zhejiang Geely Holding, unveiled its first all-electric vehicle on Wednesday. Polestar 2 claims to be “the first electric car to compete in the marketplace around” the entry-level Tesla Model 3. “The buzz around the Tesla Model 3 showed where electromobility is relevant for society today,” Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, said during the company’s unveiling. “With Polestar 2, we bring an exciting premium electric car that will broaden the choice and offer in exactly this segment.” The Polestar 2 seems to check all the boxes to give Elon Musk’s car a run for its money. Both vehicles offer around 310 miles of range, regular software updates, a large central touchscreen, and obstacle detection systems. It also competes well on price, at $63,000 in the United States for the launch edition, similar to the $60,900 price of the Model 3 Performance edition. Competing in this area makes sense, as the Model 3 has dominated American sedan sales and is set to expand outside of North America. Side view. Polestar Polestar 2’s long-range 78 kilowatt-hours battery is comprised of 324 cells condensed into 27 modules coupled with cooling plates, protected in an enclosure with an aluminum base and steel lid. The enclosure is attached to the body on its base to improve the car’s stiffness, also creating a low center of gravity. Stiffness is 35 percent higher than a regular vehicle thanks to the battery enclosure. The car targets 310 miles of range according to the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure and 275 miles of range based on the United States’ EPA ratings (the Model 3 is advertised as offering 310 miles of range, but the EPA rated it for 334 miles). Polestar 2 from the rear. Polestar The car uses two motors in the front and rear offering 150 kilowatts and 330 Newton-meters, creating a total of 300 kilowatts power 408 horsepower and 660 newton-meters. The battery acts as an anchor of relevant frequencies, which means it can help reduce noise. Ingelath demonstrated this by playing the sound of a conventional car that makes 74.3 decibels of noise, before playing against the sound 3.7 decibels lower. Polestar 2 in action. Polestar The LED headlights use 84 LED pixels lined up in three rows. They project the beam with higher precision, while also recognizing up to five cars in oncoming traffic and cutting the light beam around oncoming cars. It enables users to keep the headlights permanently in high beam mode without worrying about oncoming drivers. Polestar 2 driving down the road. Polestar Pilot assist system radar and forward-looking camera offer safer driving. It’s permanently activated looking out for obstacles. It is unclear how this system will compare to rival systems like Tesla Autopilot, which can drive down highways and turn off at the correct exit at a “level two” degree of autonomy. Telsa claims its system will one day support full autonomous driving. Polestar 2 from above. Polestar The side mirror, mandated by regulators but a pain for aerodynamics engineers, has been re-engineered. Instead of adjusting the glass by tilting the whole mirror, the car tilts the glass independently to enable a reduced bezel design. This reduces the volume of the mirror by 30 percent. The exterior. Polestar The Polestar 2 uses Bluetooth on the smartphone to unlock the door when the user grabs the handle, similar to the Model 3. As Bluetooth has a range of six to seven meters, the team uses four extra antennas in every corner of the car to increase the precision to less than two meters. This reduces the chance of the car unlocking when the driver is away from the car. The start button is embedded into the driver’s seat, meaning that as soon as the car is on the phone, the car will be ready to go. There is no key to turn or button to press. The steering wheel. Polestar When driving, essential information is displayed on the screen. Navigation takes the full width of the screen during GPS. An 11-inch touchscreen in the center, mounted in portrait mode, offers access to information and entertainment. The system uses Android to provide access to the Google Play Store and voice-activated Google Assistant — although Ingelath does promise integration with the iPhone. Apps are downloaded into one of four easily-accessible tile slots. While the Model 3 has a 15-inch central touchscreen, it also has no instrument cluster and uses Tesla’s in-house software system. The central touchscreen. Polestar Updates will become available on a regular basis, downloadable through the car’s internet connection. Polestar previously demonstrated the screen’s user interface through a web app released last month. Ingelath demonstrated the voice assistant by asking “show me the nearest charging points,” immediately calling up places in the local area. Polestar 2 interior. Polestar The car’s interior leverages talents “from the masters of avant-garde interior design,” using Scandinavian design and minimalism. Ingelath declared it “the best-designed electric car, period.” The car uses a vegan leather interior, standard across the range, as part of its environmental credentials. A sporty material called “weave tech,” 30 percent lighter than leather, saves 8.8 pounds of weight compared to a leather-equipped car. An alternative interior dubbed “textile” saves 17.6 pounds compared to a leather car. A third option, “3D Etched,” offers a polycarbonate decor. Black ash wood accents are aimed at reducing car scrap by finishing the interior without more metal. The interior seats. Polestar Spock, a little yellow block the team named after the Star Trek character, prevents damage to the battery pack and injuries to the passengers by guiding the car away from side collisions. The vehicle is designed to reach the top scores from rating institutes. Up to nine airbags add further protection, and Ingelath detailed a list of all safety features: The car's safety features. Polestar The Polestar 2 is set to launch in six colors: midnight, magnesium, snow, thunder, moon and void. Users can choose to purchase with or without performance spec. The performance version offers lean chassis, golden seatbelts, and special brake calipers. The base model is set to retail at launch for €39,900. The team will also offer a €59,900 all-wheel drive with 300 kilowatts of motor power, offering the “plus” package with a panoramic glass roof, pixel LED lights, Weave Tech seats, and a Harmon-Kardon sound system. The car will be available in China, Canada, California, and six European countries. Production is set to start in February 2020, but users will be able to access the configurator and place a reservation immediately.<doc-sep>By Volvo’s Polestar 2, which has been dubbed as a potential competitor to the best-selling Tesla Model 3, was recently unveiled. Here is a comparison of the vehicles in terms of their performance, features, batteries, and price. Performance and Features The Polestar 2 is equipped with dual motors that produce 408 hp, which allow the car to go from 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. It is also an electric vehicle that features a deep integration with Google’s Android ecosystem, with its interior being dominated by an 11″ touchscreen that is loaded to the brim with familiar apps like Google Maps and Google Play Music. The Polestar 2 even has Google Assistant, which is arguably one of the most robust voice assistants in the market today, rivaling Apple’s Siri and Samsung’s Bixby. The Model 3 features Tesla’s trademark performance and tech. The Model 3 Performance, which is in the same price category as the Polestar 2 Launch Edition (the first version of the car that will enter production), is equipped with dual motors that produce 450 hp, allowing the vehicle to sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The Model 3 also features Tesla’s custom tech for its electric cars, which include features such as Autopilot. The vehicle also receives regular, free over-the-air software updates, which improve the vehicle and add features such as the recently-released Sentry Mode and Dog Mode. Batteries and Range The Polestar 2 is equipped with a sizable 78 kWh battery pack comprised of cells from LG Chem, which the company expects will give the fastback a range of 275 miles per charge. This figure is lower than the estimates of Polestar COO Jonathan Goodman last year, when he mentioned to Autocar at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed that the Polestar 2 will have a range of around 350 miles per charge. In comparison, the Long Range Tesla Model 3 is equipped with a ~75 kWh battery pack made of cells produced in Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 in Nevada. Despite having a smaller battery than the Polestar 2, the Long Range Model 3 features more range at 310 miles per charge. Tesla’s Mid Range Model 3, which is speculated to be equipped with a 62 kWh battery, features a range of 264 miles per charge. Price At a price between $45,000 for the base version and $68,000 for the fully-loaded top-tier variant, the Polestar 2 is a pretty solid option in the electric vehicle market. The Polestar 2 “Launch Edition,” which costs $63,000 and is expected to be produced first, is priced comparably with the Model 3 Performance, providing would-be electric car buyers who do not wish to purchase a Tesla a good alternative. Tesla has been able to bring the price of the Model 3 down over the past few months. Currently, Tesla sells the vehicle’s most affordable variant, the Mid Range Model 3, for $42,900 before savings. The Long Range Dual Motor AWD Model 3 sells for $49,900 before savings, and the top-tier Model 3 Performance costs $60,900 before savings. Buyers who opt to purchase Enhanced Autopilot can order the driver-assist system for $5,000. Conclusion Ultimately, it should be noted that the Polestar 2 is something more than a competitor for the Model 3. It is a well-rounded vehicle produced by an experienced carmaker that is unashamedly electric; and thus, it is more of a threat to gasoline-powered cars than it is to other EVs on the market. With vehicles such as the Model 3 and the Polestar 2, it might be only a matter of time before the era of high-performance sedans such as the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S comes to an end. Tesla Model 3 vs Polestar 2: performance, features, batteries, and price<doc-sep>
Volvo sister company Polestar isn’t shy about its intentions to lock horns with Tesla. Its first model, simply called 1. is more of an eco-friendly grand-tourer than a true Tesla fighter, but its second model — called, you guessed it, the Polestar 2 — is aimed directly at the Model 3. It’s more upmarket than cheaper electric cars like the Chevrolet Bolt and the Nissan Leaf, it’s jam-packed with tech, it stands out with a head-turning design, and its’s shaping up to be the 3’s first real rival. Here is how these two electric sedans compare, and how they differ. Design Introduced in March 2016, the Tesla Model 3 took the company’s design language in a striking new direction. It stands out with swept-back headlights and a low hood, a feature made possible because an electric motor is markedly smaller than a gasoline-burning engine. Its tall, arched roofline helps create a generous amount of space for five passengers and their gear. Out back, it borrows styling cues such as horizontal lights connected by a strip of chrome trim from the bigger Model S and Model X, but it’s not a carbon copy of either. Tesla avoided the Russian doll-type approach to styling that many of its competitors are stuck in. The Polestar 2 gives off Volvo vibes, and that’s not a coincidence. It evolved from the 40.2 concept Volvo introduced at its Gothenburg, Sweden, headquarters in 2016. Like the design study, it rides a little bit higher than a conventional sedan; its taller ride height reminds us of the limited-edition S60 Cross Country we drove in 2015. Adding ground clearance made it easier for engineers to integrate a bulky battery pack into the chassis. The end result is a distinctive, segment-bending design that blurs the line between a crossover and a sedan. Performance Tesla offers three versions of the Model 3 called Mid-Range, Long-Range, and Performance. The Mid-Range car comes with a 62-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers up to 264 miles of range. It’s equipped with a single electric motor mounted over the rear axle, so it’s rear-wheel drive. Tesla hasn’t released the car’s horsepower output, but it quotes a 0-to-60-mph time of 5.6 seconds. Next up is the Long-Range model, which is only offered with dual-motor all-wheel drive. The two motors draw electricity from a bigger, 75-kWh battery pack, which stores enough electricity for up to 310 miles of range. The extra power — Tesla hasn’t specified how much of it — lowers its zero-to-60-mph time to 4.5 seconds. Finally, the range-topping Model 3 Performance keeps the Long-Range’s 310-mile range but scoots to 60 mph from a stop in 3.3 seconds, which is on par with some of the hottest performance cars on the planet. At launch, the Polestar 2 will come in a single configuration. Its drivetrain is built around a 78-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers electricity to two electric motors, each mounted over one of the axles. Its output checks in at 408 horsepower and 437 pound-feet of torque, which is enough for a sub-5-second sprint to 60 mph, and Polestar estimates the 2 will be capable of driving for up to 275 miles on one charge. That’s better than many electric cars on the market, including the Mid-Range version of the Model 3, but it falls short of the top-spec variants. Though Polestar hasn’t announced a dedicated, performance-oriented model, it offers a Performance Pack that bundles a firmer suspension, bigger brakes made by Brembo, and specific alloy wheels wrapped by sport tires. Pricing for the Performance Pack hasn’t been announced yet. Interior and tech Technology is an integral part of every Tesla, and the 3 is no different. The company placed a 15-inch, TV-like touchscreen on the dashboard and grouped all of the car’s key functions inside of it in order to reduce distractions — and complexity during the manufacturing process — to the strict minimum. This layout takes the minimalist cabin design automakers are moving toward to unprecedented heights because the screen replaces a vast majority of the buttons, switches, knobs, and stalks commonly found inside a car. Early customers complained about serious build-quality problems, but as of early 2019, Tesla seems to have mostly figured out how to put together the Model 3 reliably. Enhanced Autopilot is available for $5,000.