Skip advert
Advertisement

402bhp Polestar 2 enters production ahead of summer deliveries 

Production is now under way for Polestar’s answer to the Tesla Model 3 

Polestar's second all-new model, the aptly named Polestar 2, is an all-electric, compact executive-sized mainstream model from the Swedish performance off-shoot of Volvo. Polestar wants the 2 not only to rival the Tesla Model 3, but also to set the cat among the current compact executive class pigeons. The high-spec First Edition's £49,900 starting price is a little high given the Tesla's sub-£40,000 price tag, but with an estimated range of over 300 miles, the Polestar 2 has the numbers to back up these lofty ambitions. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Despite the current situation, the brand recently announced that production of the model had begun in its Chinese facility, ahead of first deliveries in Europe this summer. Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said: ‘We start production now under these challenging circumstances, with a strong focus on the health and safety of our people. This is a great achievement and the result of huge efforts from the staff in the factory and the team securing the supply chain.’

> Click here for our review of the Tesla Model S

The Polestar 2 is powered by two electric motors fed from a 78kWh lithium-ion battery pack that helps achieve the projected 310-mile range figure. Power stands at 402bhp, with a chunky 487lb ft of torque available right from the off, as per most electric motors. Polestar quotes a 0-62mph time of under 5 seconds. With such a large battery pack and tall-ish ride height, we suspect the as yet unconfirmed weight figure to be a hefty number.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

The Polestar 2 sits on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture, the one that also underpins the Volvo XC40 SUV and will soon spread to more Polestar and Volvo models that sit below those based on the larger SPA platform - like the Volvo S90 and V90. With Polestar’s positioning as the electric and performance brand within Volvo owner Geely’s stable, we hope that a sense of fun has been engineered into the Polestar 2 package. Even if the car’s slightly odd semi-lifted ride height suggests this might not be the case.

For those wanting the best in handling from their Polestar 2 the company will offer a set of chassis upgrades too. The Performance Pack that Polestar says improves driving dynamics consists of Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes and unique 20-inch forged alloy wheels. Polestar’s signature gold seat belts, brake calipers and valve caps complete the performance visual upgrade.

Advertisement - Article continues below

However, as well as majoring on performance this new Polestar 2 is also about design, user interface and technology, and on these fronts the manufacturer has not held back. We’ll let you assess whether the lifted ‘fastback’ profile works, but the crisp detailing, clever surfacing and use of simple graphics make the Tesla Model 3 look blobby and traditional compact executives like the BMW 3-series seem distinctly old-fashioned.

> Click here for our review of the new BMW 330i

The interior has also been totally reimagined, with a sleek understated cabin dominated by a new 11-inch next-generation infotainment screen that now sits proud of the main dash. The design is not quite as minimalist as that inside the Model 3, but thanks to Volvo’s habitual innovation in ergonomic design, the Polestar is likely to be a step up in terms of quality and ease of use. The infotainment system is also the first to be developed by Google’s smartphone juggernaut Android, Polestar aiming to lean on its expertise in terms of  interface design.

Polestar will launch with the First Edition model in these images, priced at £49,900, a generous amount more than the entry-level Polestar 2 variants that will follow on next year. The Performance Pack can be equipped for £5000, adding 4-piston Brembo brakes (front), adjustable Ohlins dampers, 20" forged wheels and gold details. Whether the headline-grabbing £40k entry-level models will have the same battery and performance figures is still as yet unconfirmed. Production will begin early next year, with deliveries beginning in June. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Why Alpine's A290 Rallye might just be the coolest electric car on sale
Alpine A290 Rallye
News

Why Alpine's A290 Rallye might just be the coolest electric car on sale

The A290 has proven to be one of the best performance EVs yet, and now Alpine's taking it one step further with a rally variant. Here's our first look
14 Jul 2025
New Hyundai Ioniq 6 N gets 641bhp to give Porsche Taycan a run for its money
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
News

New Hyundai Ioniq 6 N gets 641bhp to give Porsche Taycan a run for its money

After months of test mule sightings and teasers, Hyundai has finally launched its second production performance EV at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Sp…
11 Jul 2025
Porsche Cayenne Electric nears production – prototype appears at Goodwood 2025
Porsche Cayenne Electric
News

Porsche Cayenne Electric nears production – prototype appears at Goodwood 2025

The next Porsche Cayenne is on the way, with the ultimate evo tow car getting an electric option
11 Jul 2025
The 2078bhp Rimac Nevera R has shattered acceleration records and hit 268mph
Rimac Nevera R record
News

The 2078bhp Rimac Nevera R has shattered acceleration records and hit 268mph

The all-electric Rimac Nevera R hypercar is the fastest-accelerating production car the world has seen, timed and verified
10 Jul 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
News

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV

If you have to have an SUV, a Stelvio QV is acceptable. Now it's being heavily discounted.
8 Jul 2025
New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo
Festival of Speed 2025
News

New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo

The Goodwood Festival of Speed was spectacular yet again. Here are the highlights from the British motoring event of the year
14 Jul 2025
Ferrari F80 2025 review – near-1200bhp tech tour de force tested on road and track
Ferrari F80 review
Reviews

Ferrari F80 2025 review – near-1200bhp tech tour de force tested on road and track

Maranello’s latest hybrid hypercar and successor to the LaFerrari blends mind-bending capabilities with deeply intuitive character
10 Jul 2025