Polestar has given way to a nail-biting rivalry against Tesla with the launch of 2 ahead of Geneva Motor Show.
The second iteration from Volvo's ex-tuning arm which became a standalone electric performance brand in 2017 is ready to lock horns with Tesla's mass-market Model 3. Unlike the Polestar 1 which was primarily aimed as a statement of purpose, the 2 means serious business.
Polestar has heat-locked its target on Tesla and has made it pretty evident in an elaborate press release. While Tesla geared up to sell 500,000 of Model 3, Polestar took notes. The Swedish manufacturer has embodied all the necessary elements that will bring the car on par (or maybe more) with its American rival.
At the heart of it is a 78kWh battery that delivers 402hp and enough torque to lunge from 0-100kph in 5.1 seconds. Surpassing what the entry-level Tesla Model 3 promises, the new Polestar 2 has a claimed mile range of 500km.
Volvo calls the hatchback design 'Fastback'. Nonetheless, unlike Tesla Mode 3's rounded and curvy design, the 2 stands with a sharper and aggressive stance. The underlying design of the 2 can be immediately related to Volvo's 40.2 concepts from 2016.
The 2 lives up to an example that proves that Polestar has not forgotten its racing roots. This comes in the form of an optional performance package that gets you adjustable Ohlins dampers, Brembo brakes at the front and a set of 20-inch forged wheels. And let's not forget the gold valve caps and gold seatbelts that lets your friends know you've got the fast one.
Unlike the Polestar 1, the 2 genuinely departs from the Volvo-ish essence on the inside. The dash is dominated by an 11-inch portrait touchscreen infotainment system. The exciting news, however, is its ability to be connected to the internet...all the time. This means that using Google Maps won't require your phone anymore.
While it is too early to judge the better out of the two, Polestar has hit hard with the 2, and with all the tech-trickery onboard, Tesla sure has a thing or two to worry about.
