Polestar 2 gains cheaper single-motor version with 260 miles of range

Volvo’s Polestar spin-off is attempting to widen the customer base for its electric fastback by introducing a more attainable entry-level trim that does away with the dual-motor setup. Instead, the base Polestar 2 features a single electric motor driving the front wheels by sending 231 horsepower. That’s actually more than the 204-hp output delivered by each of the two electric motors in the all-wheel-drive version.

There’s more good news to share as the entry point into the Polestar 2 lineup retains the 78-kWh battery pack of the dual-motor models. It will have enough juice for an EPA range of around 260 miles and even more provided the vehicle is fitted with the optional Plus Pack featuring a heat pump. For the sake of comparison, the dual-motor model has an estimated EPA range of 240 miles, with an available heat pump as well to allow the EV to cover longer distances.

The aforementioned Plus Pack encompasses a full-length panoramic glass roof and a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, not to mention vegan upholstery and wood trim. Heated front and rear seats are also part of the package, with the front ones featuring electric adjustment. Also heated are the wiper blades and the steering wheel, while the mechanical heat pump can add as much as 10% of extra range.

There’s also a Pilot Pack bringing LED headlights (and fog lights), adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, and an assortment of safety systems. Go for the dual-motor Polestar 2 and an optional Performance Pack comes along with Öhlins dampers, Brembo brakes, 20-inch forged wheels with sticky tires, plus gold accents inside and out.

The single- and dual-motor models are joined by the range-topping Launch Edition, which continues to be offered in the United States and Canada. It’s essentially the fully loaded model and ready for immediate delivery, while the new base model won’t arrive in North America until the end of 2021.

Polestar doesn’t say how much the entry-level model variant costs, but it should significantly undercut the $59,900 dual-motor configuration.

Source: Polestar