THE EV industry is in a state of flux.
The rise of Chinese electric vehicles is making things uncomfortable for other players in this space. But it does force a sense of urgency and in every brand trying to grab a slice of the e-pie to pull out the stops.
But, price cuts, waning incentives and fleet operators cutting back on purchases are making for a bumpy road ahead.
Tesla has cut prices and faced a recall of 2.2 million vehicles due to the font sizes of its warning lights!
Rental car giant Hertz recently paused plans to buy 65,000 EVs from Polestar, citing high repair costs as a reason.
The Second Coming
Polestar, which was owned by Volvo Cars and China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding group has recently been through a process of separation. Volvo will discontinue funding Polestar. Geely will assume responsibility for Polestar’s future growth.
Polestar still has to keep the production lines moving.
Its cars have the Volvo DNA and ambitions of being electric, which, in Polestar’s case, is the default setting.
The latest Polestar 2, the model which keeps the brand visible, continues to shoulder the load for the newcomer.
Starting With A Clean Front
The Polestar 2 kind of gets off on the wrong note with a new, plain, covered up grille. The previous version, with its chocolate bar look, had way more character than this latest flat interpretation. Fortunately, the Thor hammer headlights are still there.
It tries to compensate for this with a powerful set up that has more of a rear-drive bias, which does make for an engaging drive. The upgraded lithium-ion batteries generate 82kWh for the long-range versions and with the rebalanced drivetrain set up and torque ratio, delivers 350kW of power and 740Nm torque (300kW and 660Nm, in the previous version).
That’s the kind of juice you want when overtaking, delivered in a rush of sibilance and motion; 0-100kmh in 4.2 seconds. Since you don’t have to start the car — once you’re in, it’s ready to rocket off!
Punch a few details into the vertical display and use the stylised shifter to get into the gear you desire, and you’re on your way.
With the right sound pumping through the 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, it’ll make for a great mobile acoustic chamber with the air-powered subwoofer.
With the 99.5% UV resistant and heat-treated panoramic roof allowing you a view outside of the safety cage of the cabin, you don’t feel too claustrophobic, especially in the tight backseat.
Still Wired
The Google-centric OS however means you need a wired connection for those who want to use Apple CarPlay. Not ideal since it’s a bit cramped when you’re trying to jam in the cable. At least wireless phone charging is available.
There are many driver assists that have been loaded on in the Smart Zone, which debuts in this variant of the Polestar 2. Also included are 4 cameras and 12 parking sensors to deliver 360° views of the car, which is handy when getting into tight spots.
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While the vegan interior comes as standard, you can also opt for the Zinc Nappa leather with the broken chevron pattern and seat ventilation for the front seats.
There is much to like about this version of the Polestar 2 as an EV that offers more character in how it drives. But, at *$315K and all the uncertainty about the brand swirling about like fog on the ground, it’ll be interesting to see how the future pans out on the road ahead.
POLESTAR 2 RATING
Styling: 8/10
Interior: 7/10
Connectivity: 6/10
Ride: 7/10
Handling: 7/10
Power: 8/10
Overall: 7/10
https://www.polestar.com/en-sg/
*Please reconfirm price with dealer.
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