| Polestar 2 | |
| Manufacturer: | Polestar (Volvo) |
| Production: | 2020–present |
| Designer: | Thomas Ingenlath |
| Assembly: | China: Luqiao, Zhejiang (Luqiao CMA Super Factory)[1] |
| Class: | Compact executive car (D) |
| Body Style: | 5-door liftback[2] |
| Layout: | Front-motor, front-wheel-drive or Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive[3] |
| Platform: | Compact Modular Architecture |
| Length: | 46061NaN1 |
| Wheelbase: | 27351NaN1 |
| Width: | 18591NaN1 |
| Height: | 14821NaN1 |
| Weight: | - [4] |
| Sp: | us |
The Polestar 2 is a battery electric 5-door liftback produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo under its Polestar sub-brand. Based on the CMA platform, production began in March 2020[5] at the Luqiao CMA Super Factory in Luqiao, Zhejiang, China.[6]
The concept car that precedes its design was called the Volvo Concept 40.2. It was designed by Thomas Ingenlath alongside the Volvo Concept 40.1, which later became the basis of the XC40. These two concept cars were both unveiled in 2016. However, Volvo decided to shift their focus to small crossovers later that year.[7] Therefore, Polestar picked the 40.2 as the basis for their Polestar 2 design.[8] Volvo's exterior design chief Maximilian Missoni tweaked the car's taillights, grille, and wheels in order to differentiate it as a standalone vehicle.[9] The Polestar 2 is also the first car with Google's Android Automotive operating system built in.
Polestar 2 is the second car under the Polestar brand after the Polestar 1. Polestar 1 is however a plug-in hybrid and limited production vehicle, making the Polestar 2 the first battery electric vehicle and mass production Polestar vehicle in the Volvo Car Group.
The production version was officially unveiled on 27 February 2019 during an internet livestream and made its first public appearance at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show that month.[10] The car has a starting suggested retail price of US$49,900 as of October 2021.[11] For the 2022 model year, Polestar announced that additional options would be available for the Polestar 2.
An updated Polestar 2 was revealed in January 2023 for the 2024 model year, with rear-wheel drive becoming the standard drivetrain for the entry-level model instead of the previous front-wheel drive. The single motor model was upgraded to produce and 3610NaN0 of torque, an increase of and 1180NaN0, resulting in a 1.1 second faster time - now 5.9 seconds. The long range trim's battery was also upgraded to a capacity of 82 kWh. The powertrain of the dual-motor model's output was raised by and 790NaN0 for a total of and 5460NaN0, enabling a time of 4.3 seconds. Dual-motor models, now using an asynchronous motor in the front, will be able to disengage the front axle to increase efficiency and range.[12]
The front end also received an update, exchanging its grid-like grille for a more covered version, with an array of sensors and a camera in the center. In addition, the Pilot Pack will come standard for dual-motor models in the North American market.
Launched in March 2023, the BST edition 230 is similar to the BST edition 270 introduced in June 2022,[13] with changes including different colors and the grille insert coming from the facelifted Polestar 2.[14]
Technical upgrades include a suspension lowered by, manually adjustable Öhlins dampers and improved performance, with the two electric motors having been tuned to produce a combined output of .[15]
The Polestar 2 is designed to protect the battery pack during an impact and automatically disconnect it after a collision. On both front ends a SPOC (Severe Partial Overlap Crash) block is attached to mitigate the crash forces and prevent any material entering the occupant compartment. The Polestar 2 also features a centre airbag to protect from far-side impacts.[16]
The Polestar 2 obtained a 5-star 2021 Euro NCAP rating with a 92% score for protection of adults, 89% for protection of children, 80% for protection of vulnerable road users and 86% for safety assist.[17]
In October 2020, Polestar issued a recall on all Polestar 2 models due to a software defect that caused loss of power to the vehicle whilst driving. As the vehicles were not capable of OTA software updates at that time it required all of the vehicles to be recalled to a service centre for a manual software update.[18]
Later the same month a second recall was issued due to faulty inverters.[19]
| Standard Range – Single Motor | Long Range – Single Motor | Long Range – Dual Motor | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markets | Europe | North America, Europe | North America, Europe | |
| Powertrain | RWD | AWD | ||
| Range | WLTP | EPA | EPA | |
| Efficiency | WLTP | EPA | EPA | |
| Battery capacity | 64 kWh (usable)69 kWh (gross) | 75 kWh (usable)78 kWh (gross) | ||
| DC charging | 130 kW | 155 kW | ||
| AC charging | 11 kW | |||
| Charging time[20] | 100%: 420 minutes (AC 3-phase Wallbox/charging station 11.0 kW); 80%: 35 minutes (DC charging station 116.0 kW) | 100%: 420 minutes (AC 3-phase wallbox/charging station 11.0 kW); 80%: 35 minutes (DC charging station 155.0 kW) | 100%: 420 minutes (AC 3-phase wallbox/charging station 11.0 kW); 80%: 40 minutes (DC charging station 150.0 kW) | |
| Motor | Single Front Permanent-magnet synchronous motor | Dual Permanent-magnet synchronous motors | ||
| Curb weight | ||||
| Power (peak, vehicle) | ||||
| Torque (peak, vehicle) | ||||
| Acceleration | 7.0 seconds | 4.0 seconds | ||
| Top speed | ||||
From September 2021 to March 2022, the Polestar 2 Single Motor Standard Range with a 64 kWh battery and 165 kW power, 224 hp was available in Europe. The battery for this version was made by CATL. The 64 kWh and 165 kW power version is available until now in China, as the only Single Motor Standard Range version.[21]
Using the ISO 14044 method, Polestar 2 has lower life-cycle emissions than the XC40 when driving more than 35000kmto80000kmkm (22,000milesto50,000mileskm), depending on conditions.[22]
Polestar's factory is located in Chengdu, China.[23] All cars for the European market get shipped to Shanghai, China, by train. In Shanghai, the car gets placed on a boat to Zeebrugge, Belgium. In Zeebrugge, the European cars get approved after European new-car rules before getting shipped to the destination country.[24]