Connectivity and infotainment are taken care of with the first application of Android Automotive OS, offering Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Google Play Store for what Polestar promises will be a seamless digital experience.
With no test drives so far, Polestar’s claims of dynamic engagement remain as claims, but clearly work has gone on to make Polestar 2 a driver’s car, as shown by the sophisticated nature of the optional Performance Pack.
“We spent a lot of time obsessing over the finest details of the chassis set-up to find the car’s sweet spot,” says Polestar chassis development chief Joakim Rydholm. “We call it the ‘Golden Ride’ – comfortable but focused, we want you to feel positively connected to the road, the car alive and communicative, but balanced and predictable. It really is unlike most electric cars.”
Polestar 2 is the mainstream follow-up to Polestar 1 which introduced the reinvented electric performance brand in 2017 in the form of a limited-volume, super-expensive 600 horsepower hybrid coupe. Polestar 2 in contrast is pure electric and based on a version of the architecture that underpins cars like the Volvo XC40. There are motors back and front and as well as the 402 bhp there’s 660Nm (487lb ft) of torque going to all four wheels – sizeable outputs for a five-door hatch. 0-62mph acceleration is tipped to take around 5 seconds.