Polestar 2 EV moves to rear-wheel drive, in Australia from Q3
Single-motor variants of the Polestar 2 electric liftback are set to switch from front-wheel momentum (FWD) to rear-wheel momentum RWD) as part of a newly spoken update.
Polestar today detailed a number of changes for its Tesla Model 3 rival, including new electric motor setups and batteries bringing increasingly power and range, tweaked exterior styling, and spare standard features. While not confirmed, we moreover expect some price increases.
Australian customers will be worldly-wise to order a 2024 Polestar 2 in the second quarter of 2023 through the Polestar Australia website. First deliveries are expected in the third quarter of this year.
This 2024 model-year update to the Polestar 2 follows very similar changes to the Volvo XC40 and C40 Recharge electric crossovers based on the same CMA tracery and made in the same Chinese factory.
Two new single-motor RWD powertrains will be offered in the Polestar 2, replacing the existing single-motor FWD powertrains.
The Standard Range Single Motor is now powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 200kW of power and 490Nm of torque (up 30kW and 160Nm).
The shower in this vehicle retains its 69kWh topics but is a new pack sourced from LG Chem. It has a personal range of 518km equal to WLTP testing (up 40km) and can be DC fast-charged at a maximum rate of 135kW (up from 130kW).
Meantime the Long Range Single Motor is moreover powered by a single rear-mounted motor, but power has been bumped to 220kW.
The new Long Range uses a CATL-sourced 82kWh lithium-ion shower pack. It has a personal range of 635km WLTP (up 84km) and can be DC charged at a maximum rate of 205kW (up from 155kW).
Polestar claims the single-motor RWD models can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds and 6.2 seconds respectively – virtually second faster than the previous FWD models.
The final model to receive some powertrain updates is the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor.
It’s now powered by a rear-biased dual-electric motor AWD powertrain which produces total system outputs of 310kW and 740Nm (up 10kW and 80Nm). Polestar claims this model can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.
Power in the Long Range Dual Motor can be bumped to 350kW with the Performance Pack misogynist as an over-the-air performance software download. Adding the Performance Pack to the Long Range Dual Motor reduces the 0-100km/h time to 4.2 seconds.
2023 model year shown
The front electric motor in the Long Range Dual Motor can now disconnect to maximise range. It moreover comes with the new CATL-sourced 82kWh lithium-ion shower with a personal range of 592km equal to WLTP testing, up a substantial 105km.
“Changing from front- to rear-wheel momentum in the single-motor variants, and re-calibrating the torque ratio in the dual-motor variant for an increased rear-wheel momentum feel, elevates the Polestar 2 driving wits to a whole new level,” said Polestar throne of chassis minutiae Joakim Rydholm.
“The updated Polestar 2 is an plane increasingly playful and wiry car, retaining its tensile and well-constructed sense of control, while at the same time rhadamanthine increasingly mature with widow comfort.”
Besides the electric powertrain and shower tweaks, the 2024 Polestar 2 receives a new blanked-out grille that’s inspired by the Polestar 3 SUV. Dubbed the SmartZone, this grille houses the vehicle’s front-facing camera and mid-range radar.
The 20-inch forged transfuse wheels in the Performance Pack for the Long Range Dual Motor have moreover been updated to squint similar to the Polestar 3’s.
Lastly, all Polestar 2 variants now come with a wireless phone charger and auto-dimming exterior side mirrors.
They moreover now all come standard with safety features including blind-spot monitoring with steering support, cross-traffic zestful with restriction support, rear voluntary emergency braking (AEB), and a surround-view camera. A number of these features were previously locked overdue option packs.
Australian pricing for the 2024 Polestar 2 hasn’t been detailed yet. It’s expected to be spoken closer to when orders open.
The range currently starts from $63,900 surpassing on-road financing for the front-wheel momentum Standard Range Single Motor, and extends to $73,400 surpassing on-roads for the all-wheel momentum Long Range Dual Motor.
Given the spare equipment and widow power, it would be reasonable to speculate on a price increase, although it’s important to take into worth that wily rival Tesla just cut its prices.
The Polestar 2 was the fourth top-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Australia last year with 1524 examples sold. It was outsold by the Tesla Model 3 (10,877 sales), Tesla Model Y (8717 sales), and BYD Atto 3 (2113 sales).
2023 model year shown
The recently-floated Polestar as a company estimates it sold 51,500 vehicles last year, up 80 per cent year-on-year and buoyed by a sizeable fourth-quarter wordage icon of 21,000 vehicles. It expects to increase sales to 80,000 units in 2023.
- Polestar 2 Standard Range Single Motor
- 69kWh battery
- 135kW DC charging
- 518km max range
- 200kW and 490Nm
- Rear-wheel drive
- 6.4 seconds 0-100km/h
- Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor
- 82kWh battery
- 205kW DC charging
- 635km max range
- 220kW and 490Nm
- Rear-wheel drive
- 6.2 seconds 0-100km/h
- Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor
- 82kWh battery
- 205kW DC charging
- 592km max range
- 310kW and 740Nm
- All-wheel drive
- 4.5 seconds 0-100km/h
- Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor
- 82kWh battery
- 205kW DC charging
- 592km max range
- 350kW and 740Nm
- All-wheel drive
- 4.2 seconds 0-100km/h
MORE: Everything Polestar 2
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