The upcoming Polestar 2 promises to mark a new dawn in the era of electric cars, with stellar performance and high-end design to the fore
Polestar is a new electric performance car brand, focused on uncompromised design and cutting-edge technology. The brand’s ambition is to guide the industry forward through ‘pure, progressive, performance’.
The Polestar 2 is the first fully electric vehicle from the brand, following on from the Polestar 1, an electric performance hybrid Grand Tourer coupe. The Polestar 2 is an avant-garde five-door performance fastback, packed with distinctive design flourishes from a hollow, hexagonal gear shifter with an illuminated Polestar in the centre to rear lights stretching the entire width of the car. These details don’t just give the Polestar 2 its unique look – they’re also the intersecting points of form and function, establishing the Polestar 2 as a versatile, modern, progressive electric car.
Performance
Performance is an integral part of the Polestar philosophy, and the Polestar 2 doesn’t deviate from this in the slightest. With a 78kWh battery and two electric motors (front and rear axle) providing a total 300kW of power (408hp), 660Nm of torque, 0-62 mph in less than five seconds and a targeted range of 310 miles, the Polestar 2 packs a powerful electric punch.
This all- wheel-drive model comes with a very high level of standard specification such as a vegan interior, panoramic glass roof, integrated Harman Kardon surround sound system, autopilot, Android infotainment system and diamond-cut alloy wheels.
Design
When it comes to design, it’s the details that deliver. The fastback body shape leads to enhanced aerodynamic performance and the side mirrors are frameless, which maximises the driver’s field of vision.
The adaptive rear lighting, in which the 288 LED rear lamp shines more intensely with stronger braking, illuminates differently depending on the weather, and provides a visual signal as to which direction the car is reversing in.
The front and rear lights display welcome and farewell sequences as you approach or walk away from the car – a futuristic detail that brings a bit of additional flavour to the Polestar 2. The Polestar logo is projected onto the panoramic roof from the overhead panel inside, adding to the ambience of the car.
The roof lamination also reduces solar radiation within the car, to the point where sunshades aren’t necessary. Partnering with audio experts Harman Kardon, the Polestar 2 is fitted out to provide a fully integrated sound system creating an immersive, etailed audio environment.
And it doesn’t end there. Looking at the storage solution, the tailgate of the Polestar 2 has its hinge at the top of the window, granting unrestricted access to the entirety of the trunk. There’s plenty of space with the 404-litre (VDA) luggage capacity, further augmented by the 34-litre front storage compartment and multiple options available for opening and closing (via the app, a button on the dash, a button on the lid itself, and a sensor under the bumper).
The car recognises you via your phone, and adapts by implementing your preferred seat position and preferred home-screen apps. Once you’re inside, the Polestar 2 is the first car to use Google’s new Android-powered infotainment system. It offers apps you’re used to, such as Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Play Store, Spotify and more, tailored for the 11.15in display and the least driver distraction.
Take your pick
There are no bad combinations when it comes to the Polestar 2. The material and colour options were chosen with care. A precise range of customisations ensures that the Polestar 2 can be configured to suit your preferences, and everything complements everything else.
Standard vegan interior materials, black ash and reconstructed wood decor elements, textile surface panels and optional Nappa leather are just some of the details that make the Polestar 2 interior both timeless and distinctive. There’s also a performance package featuring Brembo brakes and adjustable Öhlins dampers.
You can secure your place in the queue for delivery in 2020 with a fully refundable deposit by visiting www.polestar.com/uk.
The Polestar 2 includes three years’ routine servicing and maintenance, plus pick-up and delivery for all reservations made before the end of 2019. There will also be a range of financing options.
The launch edition price is from £49,900, including VAT (this price does not include the plug-in grant of £3,500). Other versions of the Polestar 2 will follow at a later date.