Volvo’s electric-car offshoot Polestar has updated its Tesla Model 3 rival with more power and driving range – and the fitment of additional key safety features as standard.
An updated 2024 Polestar 2 electric car has been revealed – with more power, increased driving range, quicker charging and revised looks – ahead of first Australian deliveries due between July and September 2023.
In addition to substantial mechanical upgrades, the offshoot of the Chinese-owned Swedish brand that built its reputation on safety has finally addressed a blind spot in its standard driver-assistance technology.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are now standard on all Polestar 2 models – after they were previously exclusive to a $3400 option pack, despite being standard on other cars less than half the price.
Polestar Australia is yet to confirm local pricing for the updated model – and order books are not due to open until April at the earliest – but as a guide, prices have increased in the UK by four to seven per cent.
This points to a starting price of $66,500 plus on-road costs and options for the entry-level model – up approximately $2500 – or $78,500 plus on-road costs and options for a top-of-the-range dual-motor model (vs $73,400 for the current car).
At these prices, the entry-level Polestar 2 will continue to fall under the threshold for electric-car government rebates in some Australian states and territories.
Also new for 2024 vehicles is a surround-view camera, side parking sensors, a wireless phone charging pad, and auto-dimming side mirrors – but adaptive cruise control will remain part of an option package.
Entry-level Standard Range Single Motor versions retains its 69kWh (gross) capacity, but the battery pack is new, and it is now connected to a more powerful 200kW/490Nm rear electric motor – up from the previous 170kW/330Nm front motor.
It cuts the 0-100km/h acceleration time from 7.4 to 6.4 seconds – and is more efficient, boosting claimed driving range to a maximum of 518km in European WLTP testing, an increase of 40km.
The Long Range Single Motor model upgrades to a 82kWh battery pack from Chinese company CATL – up from 78kWh previously – and a 220kW/490Nm rear electric motor (vs a 170kW/330Nm front motor previously).
Polestar claims the 0-100km/h acceleration time has fallen from 7.4 to 6.2 seconds, and claimed driving range on Europe’s WLTP protocol has risen from up to 551km, to up to 635km.
The enlarged 82kWh battery is shared with the flagship Long Range Dual Motor, which gains new electric motors – which bias more of the car’s power to the rear wheels – developing 310kW and 740Nm (up from 300kW/660Nm).
The Chinese-owned electric-car maker claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.5 seconds – 0.2 seconds quicker than before – and up to 592km of WLTP driving range, up 105km.
The dual-motor model’s front electric motor can be disengaged to improve energy efficiency on the highway – while the company claims the new motors deliver “vastly improved traction”.
The optional Performance Software Upgrade – which boosts power and acceleration for the dual-motor, downloaded over the Internet – is now included in the variant’s $8000 Performance Pack, in addition to being offered as a $1600 standalone option.
It increases outputs to 350kW and 740Nm – up from 300kW/660Nm previously – and reduces the 0-100km/h acceleration time to 4.2 seconds.
Polestar says the updated battery packs enable higher charging power – up to 205kW in long-range cars and up to 135kW in the standard-range base model, up from 155kW and 130kW respectively in the 2023 model.
Alongside the mechanical changes and increased standard features, the Polestar 2 sedan has been updated with a new body-coloured front grille panel inspired by the Polestar 3 SUV.
There is also a new set of 20-inch alloy wheels for the Performance Pack available on the Long Range Dual Motor, which are designed to resemble the 22-inch wheels of the Polestar 3 Performance Pack.
Polestar has confirmed ‘Pixel’ matrix LED headlights have returned to the optional Pilot Pack, after they were removed in early 2022 due to the semiconductor shortage.
Pricing for the revised Pilot Pack – which was called Pilot Lite Pack when the headlights were unavailable is yet to be confirmed.
However, the standard fitment of blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, side parking sensors and a 360-degree camera – rather than as extras as part of the Pilot Pack – means the option package may actually be cheaper than before.
The Plus Pack (previously $6000) now includes a hands-free kick sensor for the standard power tailgate, and a Digital Key to unlock the car from the owner’s smartphone.
The ‘activity key’ – a waterproof key fob intended for taking to a beach or pool – that was previously standard with the car is now an optional extra.
Polestar also claims “carbon emissions for versions with the new 82kWh battery have come down by 1.1 tonnes to 5.9 tonnes per car” due to the new battery chemistry.
Orders for the 2024 Polestar 2 in Australia are due to open in the second quarter of this year (April to June), ahead of first deliveries due in the third quarter (July to September 2023).
Pricing and further Australian details are due to open closer to launch.
The MY24 upgrades represent the second round of updates for the Polestar 2 since deliveries began in Australia in early 2022, following mild exterior and interior updates for Model Year 2023.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
