Polestar 2 Lineup Expanded to Take on Tesla

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

The battery-powered Polestar 2.

It's no secret that the Polestar 2 is a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3. Unfortunately, the vehicle's take-it-or-leave-it configuration is surely a deterrent for consumers looking for a more affordable option or one with more range. Currently, the Polestar 2 starts at $61,200 (with destination) and is only available with a dual-motor setup with all-wheel drive. Total output is rated at 402 horsepower, while the 78-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is rated at 233 miles of range. These figures aren't nearly as good as the Model 3's, which is forcing Polestar's hand into making some notable changes for the 2022 model year.

Entry-Level Model Coming

For 2022, the Polestar 2 will be available in a few more trim levels. The most significant addition is a new, single-motor version of the electric car. The front-wheel-drive Polestar 2 will only have one 231-horsepower electric motor that routes power to the front wheels. But, the front-wheel-drive variant will retain the all-wheel-drive model's 78-kWh battery pack. With less weight, range should slightly be better. Polestar claims the vehicle will be good for roughly 260 miles.

If that figure holds true, it would make the Polestar 2 far more competitive with the Model 3. Tesla's entry-level sedan has a rear-wheel-drive layout with a range of up to 263 miles. Sure, the Model 3 can be configured to have 353 miles of range, but being able to match Tesla's base configuration would be a good thing for Polestar.

For other markets, the Polestar 2 will also be available in a new, mid-range single-motor layout. This vehicle is expected to have a range of between 320 miles and 335 miles on the WLTP cycle. This configuration hasn't been confirmed for the U.S. market.

Newly Optional Heat Pump

Another major change is the newly available mechanical heat pump. For owners that live in cold conditions, this new feature will be greatly appreciated, as it's claimed to boost range by as much as 10 percent in cold climates. Consumers will see the largest benefits when temperatures range from 40 to 60 degrees. Polestar will offer the heat pump on both single- and double-motor configurations.

Lastly, Polestar is breaking up its available configurations for the electric vehicle. Before, consumers could choose the base model with the Pilot and Plus packages as standard or pay $5,000 more to get the Performance package. For the 2022 model year, Polestar is breaking the Plus Pack and Pilot Pack into different packages. Instead of them coming as standard equipment, consumers will be able to choose them as options. This should bring pricing down and give buyers more configurations to choose from.

Polestar hasn't announced pricing for the 2022 Polestar 2 EV yet, but with the new single-motor model set to arrive before the end of the year, we're sure we'll get that information shortly. A new, more affordable Polestar 2 with more range is exactly the type of thing the brand needs if it wants to take sales away from Tesla.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods