• New motors, refined ride and rear-wheel drive for single-motor versions
• Quicker charging and longer range – now up to 635 km WLTP
• Sustainability improvements reduce carbon impact by 1.1 tonnes
• SmartZone debuts following introduction on Polestar 3
• Driver Awareness features and wireless phone charger added to list of standard equipment

“Typically in the car industry, a facelift introduces superficial visual changes that often destroy the original intention of the car’s design theme. With the new model year Polestar 2, we rather went below the surface and upgraded substantial tech and mechanical components of the electric drivetrain. This is the best Polestar 2 yet, and with the updated front design with the new SmartZone, the best looking one, too,” says Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath.

Polestar 2 first entered the highly competitive premium EV market in 2019, blending Scandinavian design and excellent usability with fun driving characteristics and a dedication to sustainability. It was the first car in the world to feature an infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS with Google built-in, an experience that continues to evolve and lead the industry. This unique mix of qualities quickly made Polestar 2 a customer favourite, available in 27 markets globally and having surpassed the 100,000 unit production mark in late 2022.

High-tech design tweaks

The SmartZone makes its debut on Polestar 2, signifying the shift from breathing to seeing and reflecting the high-tech nature of Polestar vehicles. Like on Polestar 3, the SmartZone hosts some of the vehicle’s most important active safety features, including the front facing camera and mid-range radar.

The 20-inch forged alloy wheels in the Performance Pack have been updated to align Polestar 2 in its sportiest expression with that of Polestar 3.

New motors, refined ride and rear-wheel drive

Next-generation electric motors and inverters are fitted to all Polestar 2 variants, offering substantial increases in both efficiency and performance. Single-motor variants are now rear-wheel driven, powered by a newly developed permanent magnet motor and silicon carbide inverter.

The new motor has a power output of up to 220 kW (increased from 170 kW) and is optimised for maximum efficiency and high torque (490 Nm, up from 330 Nm) to further increase the dynamic performance of the car. The 0-100 km/h sprint time has been reduced by as much as 1.2 seconds, down to 6.2 seconds.

The dual-motor version now has a rear-drive bias that increases driving pleasure and performance thanks to a completely re-balanced drivetrain setup and torque-ratio.

The new rear motor is the primary drive source, supported on the front axle by a new asynchronous motor. This enables higher total system output of 310 kW and 740 Nm (increased from the original 300 kW and 660 Nm), vastly improved traction, greater overall efficiency and higher performance – 0-100 km/h is achieved in 4.5 seconds.

Supporting efficiency gains, the front motor can now be disengaged completely when not needed. When the driver wants more power, the front motor re-engages instantly and seamlessly.

Up to 350 kW are available with the optional Performance Pack, and a 0-100 km/h sprint time as low as just 4.2 seconds. The increase in power, performance and driving enjoyment is also available to purchase as a downloadable over-the-air performance software upgrade for any eligible Long range Dual motor cars.

“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.”

Better range and quicker charging

All Polestar 2 versions feature upgraded lithium-ion batteries, with a positive impact on efficiency and capacity as well as charging times. Long-range versions now feature 82 kWh batteries from CATL with 27 modules. The battery for standard-range versions retains a capacity of 69 kWh with 24 modules, and is now supplied by LG Chem

The updated batteries benefit from a redesigned battery disconnect unit, upgraded busbars and improved cell chemistry – enabling faster charging rates of up to 205 kW DC for long-range batteries and 135 kW for the standard-range battery.

Range improvements are in effect for all versions due to the larger and improved batteries, and the optimisation of power delivery from the more powerful motors. The front motor disconnect function on the Long range Dual motor variant is particularly effective at maximising range, which is now up to 592 km WLTP¹, a significant increase of 105 km.

The Standard range Single motor version is now capable of up to 518 km WLTP¹, an increase of 40 km, and the Long range Single motor variant can now achieve up to 635 km WLTP¹, an increase of 84 km.

More performance with lower impact

Despite the larger batteries, more powerful motors, longer range and more exciting performance, carbon emissions for versions with the new 82 kWh battery have come down by 1.1 tonnes to 5.9 tonnes per car (previously 7 tonnes per car), thanks to improved cell chemistry. A full life cycle assessment (LCA) is planned later in 2023.

 Revised standard equipment increases value

Standard equipment in Polestar 2 has been revised to increase overall value as well as convenience. Driver Awareness features are now standard, including Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with steering support, Cross Traffic Alert with brake support, and Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation, along with the 360-degree surround view camera and automatic dimming exterior mirrors. The wireless phone charger is now also standard on all versions.

Australian customers will be able to order the model year 2024 Polestar 2 in the second quarter of 2023 via Polestar.com. First deliveries are expected in the third quarter of 2023.

Polestar 2 MY24 details

1. Preliminary range information according to WLTP standard. Official range data to be certified later in 2023.

The post Polestar 2 major update for 2024 MY appeared first on Eco Car Guide.

The sedan shape is stylish and practical with the liftback boot and plenty of rear leg room

For the driver there is an array of technology and information at their fingertips.

Driver’s seat is particularly comfortable and being heated on the recent cold wet windy days in Sydney is a bonus.

TO LISTEN TO THE POLESTAR 2  RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

The twin motor version is fast, really fast and with a range of about 450km practical as well. For buyers that want even more there is a performance software upgrade available as well.

I especially liked the ability to adjust the roll on or regenerative braking levels.

The Polestar 2 Twin Motor also comes packed with a heap of luxury, comfort and safety features.

Polestar is doing things differently, by measuring the CO2 emission in the whole production process, having a direct to customer focussed sales model and a seven day refund policy.

I like the Polestar philosophy and I like their product.

I also like that the Polestar 2 Twin Motor sedan is priced at a reasonable $69,900 plus the usual costs

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Rob Fraser

*MLP Includes GST and LCT but excluding statutory charges, dealer costs and dealer delivery. See your dealer for RDAP. Does not include price of options. Some features mentioned in the article are options. RDAP means Recommended Drive Away Price (without options but including all other charges)

Motoring Minute is heard around Australia every day on over 50 radio channels through the Torque Radio network. 

Our Motoring Minute has an average daily audience of over 550,000 listeners and they are also syndicated through various news sites around Australia.

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Some more Polestar 2 notes

Polestar, formerly the performance sub brand of Volvo, is the lovechild between Volvo and Geely motors, developed as a purely electric car company.

Think of it as having Volvo design and research capability with Geely manufacturing and distribution, in simple terms.

Born again in 2017, the brand has brought to the market the Life Cycle Assessment concept. This is basically the carbon footprint of the life cycle of the car, from cradle to grave. Many EVs sprout the zero emissions concept, but that is truly only zero driving emissions.

This marketing hyperbole ignores the often catastrophic environmental damage caused by extracting minerals for the batteries as well as the problem of end of life waste and recycling.

There is a long way to go in attaining a comprehensive and standardised measurement, but it has to start somewhere and big tick to Polestar for starting the conversation.

In their own words:

Cradle-to-gate

An assessment that includes part of the product’s life cycle, including material acquisition through the production of the studied product and excluding the use or end-of-life stages.

However, for a component that is to be assembled in a product, a cradle-to-gate assessment can be carried out that covers the production of the component and parts of the logistics chain to the producer that assembles the component into a product.

Cradle-to-grave

A cradle-to-grave assessment considers impacts at each stage of the product’s life cycle, from the time natural resources are extracted from the ground and processed through each subsequent stage of manufacturing, transportation, product use, recycling, and ultimately, disposal.

This is a measurement that should apply across all vehicles, irrespective of the power plant, as it would give a true and comparative analysis of what environmental impacts they have.

Now on to the car itself.

What does the Polestar 2 look like?

In a word Scandinavian.

That’s a good thing. It has sleek and stylish lines, especially for a lift back design.

It’s also surprisingly sporty in feel.

Unlike a Tesla, EV6 or Ioniq5 it has a more conservative design with bold wheel arches, square style lighting and squat appearance.

The liftback boot provides excellent access to the rear boot space.

Standard 19 inch and optional 20 inch alloys compliment the overall design.

What is the Polestar 2 like inside?

New, fresh, but could make more use of the electric platform for additional space.

The front seats are reasonably comfortable but made from an unusual material. They call it ‘WeaveTech’ vegan upholstery made of recycled materials. It has a strange feel, not bad just unusual.

The week I had the Polestar 2 it deluged constantly in Sydney, so the hated seats got a workout. Also the electric adjustment with additional lumbar support was appreciated by my ageing back.

As you would expect from an EV the driver’s instrument are a configurable digital design.

There is also a large 12 inch central screen that mirrors a smart phone in design. There are a myriad of functions controlled here, unfortunately simple things like AC controls and turning off the motor are included. However the user interface is excellent with almost everything no more than two layers deep.

All design is a compromise. The large screen lends itself to minimalism, but adds slightly to complexity of functionality.

One noticeable thing is perhaps the missed opportunity to maximise the internal flexibility provided by a flat platform.

EVs like the EV6 make maximum use of the fact there is no transmission tunnel with additional, practical storage areas. Not so with the Polestar2.

Rear seats are comfortable with reasonable leg room, behind normal size drivers, not someone larger than the average bear like me.  Access though is tight with narrow doors.

Again there is a raised “tunnel” running down the middle affecting useable space when it’s not necessary.

Boot space is accessed by a huge and high lift boot lid. It’s actually a reasonably large area, with a handy ski port. Rear seats don’t fold flat though.

The front ‘boot’ space is best left for the charging cable.

Polestar 2 Features.

Some of the key features include:

• Keyless Start – Key/FOB Proximity related,
• Remote Start Climate Control dual zone A/C,
• High Beam Auto Dipping, Automatic (light sensitive) LED headlights,
• LED DRLs,
• Auto wipers,
• Electrochromatic rear view mirror
• Power tailgate
• Multiple USB ports and 12V outlets

The vehicle we drove had the $8000 performance pack option added. This includes:

• Brembo brakes
• Öhlins Dual Flow Valve dampers,
• 20 inch alloy forged wheels
• coloured seatbelts etc.

Polestar 2 Motor and drivetrain

We drove the Twin motor AWD version. This has a measured output of 300kW and 660 Nm from a 78kWh Lithium Ion battery pack.

The stated range (WLTP) is 480 km for the twin motor version and it has a stated efficiency of 20.2kWh/100km.

Charging is through a single European-standard Type 2 CCS charging port, and on DC it can charge at a rate of 155kW on the long range variants. Fast charge is estimated at around 35 minute but it will take 8 plus hours at home on normal plug in wall socket.

The performance software upgrade raises the motors’ combined certified output over the complete RPM register, increasing power from 300 kW (402 bhp) to 350 kW (469 bhp) and torque from 660 to 680 Nm (487 to 502 lb-ft). A boost that also reduces the acceleration time from 0-60 mph to just 4.2 seconds. 

Unfortunately the Polestar 2 doesn’t allow reverse charging to use to run the home etc, like the Nissan LEAF or Ioniq 5.

What is the Polestar 2 like to drive?

Whisper quiet from the motor. There is a little bit of road noise and wind noise, slightly more than you would expect.

The ability to adjust the regenerative braking and use of one pedal driving sees it go from almost normal run on style driving to take your foot off the accelerator and almost instant stop. Flexibility of choice is good.

Drivers can adjust the steering feel, pedal feel, suspension and amount of creep through the central screen.

Steering response is direct, the ride and handling again is performance oriented without compromising daily comfort. When you plant the right foot with a full charge its quick, very quick and FUN.

However like a normal fuel engine, such performance hurts the range.

Overall it’s one of the better EVs to drive daily around town.

Safety

Polestar 2 now has a five star ANCAP safety rating. However some safety features are included as options from base models.

General

• 8 Airbags
• Seatbelt pretensioners
• Central Locking – Once Mobile
• Remote/Keyless entry
• Alarm – Motion Sensor
• Tyre pressure monitor and alarm

Driver assistance

• Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping – Active Assist
• Alert/Warning – Collision Forward and road sign display
• Warning – Driver Fatigue and Driver Attention Detection
• Front and rear parking distance
• Reverse camera

Emergency Vehicle assistance

• ABS (Antilock Brakes) with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
• Traction control and Electronic Stability
• Brake Emergency Display – Hazard/Stoplights
• Active safety bonnet
• Crash avoidance with low speed braking
• Hill holder
• Collision mitigation functionality.

Polestar 2 Environmental sustainability focus

Polestar is a company that recognises that having an electric car on its own isn’t a solution. Its part of the solution only.

Some simple examples of the lengths Polestar are going to for environmental footprint reduction.

• CO₂e footprint reduced thanks to implementation of renewable energy in aluminium component sourcing and production
• Polestar’s partnership with Circulor now includes blockchain traceability of mica, in addition to cobalt that is already traced in Polestar 2 batteries.
• The blockchain technology allows Polestar to trace risk minerals from material source to finished product.
• The aluminium tray that carries the battery casing for all versions will see a CO2e reduction of 750 kg per car, thanks to the decision to only purchase aluminium for this component from smelters that use renewable energy.
• replacing the aluminium in the wheels with low-carbon aluminium that is produced using renewable energy
• Programme updates that take action on improvements that can make a positive sustainability impact quickly, rather than traditional mid-cycle facelifts.

Polestar 2 final thoughts

As mentioned above I really liked the Polestar 2 and the company philosophy.

It’s fast, rides and handles beautifully and is well priced.

The exterior design is stylish and practical. Interior design misses some important opportunities to further the cause of the practicality of BEVs.

Driving the Polestar 2 was a breeze, better than some other BEV and coped well with deluging rain and Sydney traffic jams.

I’m looking forward to the Polestar 3 and more.

The post Polestar 2 Twin Motor AWD 2022 Review appeared first on Eco Car Guide.

Progresses towards a planned listing on the Nasdaq through a proposed business combination with Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW, and GGPIU), expected to close at the end of June 2022.

• Over 32,000 customer orders globally for Polestar 2 since start of 2022; increase of 290% versus the same period in 2021
• Polestar already operating in 25 global markets; well ahead of plan on being present in 30 by end of 2023
• Nearly 130 retail locations open globally; with 30 more expected to open in 2022
• Polestar 3 to be followed by Polestar 4 electric SUV coupe and Polestar 5 electric 4-door GT

The post Polestar delivering on growth promise appeared first on Eco Car Guide.

The partnership between Polestar and Hertz is one of the largest single orders for electric cars ever made. The start of deliveries signifies Polestar’s operational capability as a relatively mature brand in a space heavily populated by early-stage start-ups.

Polestar’s long-term plan is to increase annual sales to approximately 290,000 cars by the end of 2025. This growth is already underway – Polestar has taken over 30,000 customer orders for Polestar 2 since the start of 2022.

“Our partnership with Hertz is an exciting milestone that provides the opportunity for a significant number of potential new customers to experience an EV for the first time, and it will be in a Polestar,” says Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar. “With over 55,000 Polestar cars already on the road across our 25 live markets there is no doubt that our brand is growing at an incredible pace.”

Polestar and Hertz

Hertz is initially receiving Polestar 2, the award-winning EV which has established Polestar’s position as a premium EV manufacturer. Polestar 2 is also featured in the current Hertz “Let’s go” marketing campaign, further reinforcing the partnership between the two companies.

“We’re excited to add this first delivery of Polestars to our fleet, expanding the opportunities for Hertz customers to enjoy the experience of driving an electric vehicle,” says Darren Arrington, executive vice president, Revenue Management and Fleet Acquisition for Hertz.

Polestar 2 offers avant-garde Scandinavian design and leading in-car technology, including the world’s first built in infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS from Google. The Hertz agreement includes forthcoming Polestar models such as the Polestar 3 electric SUV which has its world premiere in October 2022.

In addition, Hertz is now adding the Polestar 1 electric performance hybrid to their Dream fleet as well, to allow customers to experience the high-performance carbon fibre sports GT firsthand.

Polestar intends to list on the Nasdaq in a proposed business combination with Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW, and GGPIU), which is expected to close in June 2022.

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