Front-wheel-drive Polestar 2 is no compliance car – it’s smart
By Phil Royle – April 14, 2021
Polestar has announced the impending expansion of its Polestar 2 lineup, adding a single-motor variant to its dual-motor stable. The move isn’t quite that straightforward, though, with the single-motor setups being starkly different from the Tesla Model 3 it competes with, and Polestar’s choice will undoubtedly leave some purists scratching their heads.
The three variants Polestar will offer for its Polestar 2 will include dual- and single-motor setups, with the dual-motor configuration wielding the 78 kWh battery and 408 hp combo we’re already familiar with because it’s actively being sold in North America.
The new long-range single-motor Polestar 2 will feature that same 78 kWh battery, but it will be paired with a slightly less power hungry 231 hp motor claiming roughly 325 WLTP-rated miles of range (which could work out to be roughly 260 EPA-rated miles, some 30 miles more than the dual-motor version). Meanwhile, the new standard-range single-motor Polestar 2 will power a 224 hp motor with a 64 kWh battery.
Despite the decreased weight of the 64 kWh battery, Polestar claims both single-motor setups will offer similar consumption efficiency, with the company estimating a WLTP range of roughly 267 miles on the smaller battery car, which could translate to 210 miles through EPA’s testing cycle. Notably, some report the small battery version will not come to U.S. shores.
Polestar has also introduced an optional heat pump designed to keep occupants at a comfortable temperature without using as much of the battery’s capacity via the use of the drivetrain’s thermal heat. According to Polestar, this design can reduce climatization load by as much as 50%. Ultimately, the company claims, when operating between 40- and 60-degrees F, this has the capacity to increase the vehicle’s range by as much as 10%.
Polestar is also planning to increase thermal heating efficiency through over-the-air updates.
Vehicle options have also been rejiggered:
Performance Pack (available for the long-range dual-motor variant only): Includes adjustable Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes, forged 20-inch alloy wheels, and signature ‘Swedish gold’ details inside and out
Plus Pack (standard on the launch version, now optional on other versions): Includes premium equipment like the full-length panoramic glass roof, premium Harman Kardon audio system with 13 speakers, WeaveTech upholstery, Black Ash deco panels, fully-electric heated front seats with memory, heated rear seats, steering wheel and wiper blades, and a new heat pump.
Pilot Pack (standard on the launch version, now optional on other versions): Includes enhanced safety and driver assistance features, such as the Pixel LED headlights with LED front fog lights, Driver Assistance with Adaptive Cruise Control and Pilot Assist, a 360-degree surround view camera, all-round parking sensors, and Driver Awareness including Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with steering support, Cross Traffic Alert with brake support, and Rear Collision Warning.
Individual options also available: ventilated Nappa leather upholstery (requires Plus Pack), metallic paint, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a semi-electric folding tow bar.
The elephant in the room is that both new single-motor variants of the Polestar 2 will be front-wheel drive, marking a distinct departure from its primary competition, the Tesla Model 3, which is available in both all- and rear-drive configurations. But while some might wince at the front-drive decision, this is quite possibly a milestone in mainstream EV production that we welcome.
The top-rung Polestar 2 might not sport a 300+ mile range or wild acceleration (the 408 hp dual motor hits 60mph in a claimed 4.7 seconds), but unlike the recently announced electric Mazda MX-30, nobody accuses the Polestar 2 of being a compliance car. So why stymie performance and driving dynamics by producing a front-drive variant when it’s arguably just as easy to build a rear-drive EV, especially considering there’s an existing all-wheel-drive version with rear mounting points at the ready?
While performance enthusiasts might not like to admit it, front-wheel drive offers numerous advantages over rear drive. For instance, front-wheel-drive vehicles are far easier to control in slippery and snowy conditions. Several years ago, Consumer Reports found that while all-wheel drive is superior in gaining initial traction to put a vehicle into motion, when it comes to stopping or turning, front-wheel drive is every bit as beneficial.
The Polestar 2’s interior is nicely appointed, offering both a center-stack screen and a display in front of the driver, where it’s needed.
Double that with the fact that the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration credits 41% of accidents to winter road conditions, it becomes obvious that while all-wheel drive might be the safest option, front-wheel-drive vehicles come in a close second.
Furthermore, the world needs low-power front-drive options for our future drivers to learn in. The IIHS reports that in the U.S., drivers between the ages of 16-19 are three times more likely to be in an accident compared to drivers aged 20 and over. The last thig teens need to learn to drive in are rear- or all-wheel-drive vehicles boasting 0-60 times that were exclusive to hypercars in pre-EV times.
There are undoubtedly manufacturing and packaging efficiencies at work here, too, but for safety reasons alone, the offering of legitimate, non-compliance EVs that are front-wheel drive is an important step forward in our journey to full electrification.
U.S. pricing for the new Polestar variants were not made available, although pricing for the German market shows the long-range single-motor version to be roughly 6% less expensive than the dual-motor version. Standard range with the single motor was another 6% reduction in price. Should that translate to America’s shores, that could mean Polestar’s entry level Polestar 2 could sport a sticker price of $50,000.
Official pricing should be available soon as the single-motor versions are expected to go on sale later this year.
(Images courtesy Polestar)
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