The Polestar 2 is now rear‑wheel‑drive

Previously, the 2 was offered with a single-motor drivetrain powering the front wheels, along with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version. The big news is that the single motor version has been flipped, with the electric motor now driving the car’s rear axle, bringing with it more power, and what Polestar claims will be a more playful driving experience. 

Power steps up from the 231PS (170kW) of the old single motor car, to a fairly useful 299PS (220kW), while torque increases from 330Nm to 490Nm, bringing with it a significant boost in terms of performance. The standard Polestar 2 now leaps off the line to 62mph in just 6.2 seconds, a full 1.2 seconds faster than the pre-facelift model. 

And this new motor makes a difference to all-wheel-drive, dual motor cars as well. It introduces a rear-driven bias not present before, disconnecting the front driven axle when not needed. More power is offered up, with the standard output now 421PS (310kW), for 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds. The downloadable Performance Pack untaps the system to its full potential, unlocking up to 476PS (350kW). 

To go with the new electric motor setup on both cars, Polestar has also introduced newly developed battery packs. In the case of Long range versions of the car, battery capacity increases to a net of 82kWh. It means that Long range single motor cars now boast up to 395 miles of range – 21 miles further than the long-range version of the Tesla Model 3. Dual Motor versions step up to 368 miles of range. Maximum charging rate increases to 205kW. 

The Standard range car’s battery remains 69kWh net in capacity, but improved chemistry and some new auxiliary hardware means that it benefits from a faster maximum charging rate of 135kW. It ekes out more range out from this battery too, delivering 322 miles. It’s only offered in single motor configuration. 

To go with the updated drivetrain and battery technology is a revised look in keeping with the newer Polestar 3 SUV. When spun off from Volvo, the Polestar marque launched with a design language very similar to that of its parent brand, but it’s slowly evolving into becoming more independent. 

In the case of the 2, that means a new front end featuring what the brand calls the ‘SmartZone’ – the body coloured panel where the grille was on the pre-facelift car, which is home to some of the critical sensors and cameras powering the model’s active safety and assistance features. Performance Pack versions now use the same 20-inch wheel design as found on the Polestar 3 SUV. 

And there’s more standard equipment, too. Further driver assistance tech arrives including a blind spot detection system with automatic steering, cross traffic alert, rear collision warning and mitigation assistance, plus a 360-degree top-down camera system and a wireless smartphone charging pad. 

The new Polestar 2 is on sale now, with prices starting from £44,950 for the 322 mile rear-wheel-drive Standard-range single-motor version. Want all the performance the car has to offer? £57,950 is the asking price for the 476PS (350kW) dual-motor car with the Performance Pack.