Polestar's second production model, the 2, will go on sale in the UK early next year, priced from £49,900. The company has previously announed that US pricing will start in the region of $63,000, but the pricing is not yet confirmed.
The more attainable 2 follows the far pricier Polestar 1, the genesis of the electric performance brand that has been separated from Volvo. It will launch in the UK and other key European markets in 2020.
The new model, described as the “first electric car to compete in the marketplace around the Tesla Model 3”, is a five-door fastback that takes design inspiration from Volvo models such as the Volvo S90.
Polestar will sell models online only. UK reservations are now being taken on its website, with a £1000 fully refundable deposit. Firm orders can be placed in early 2020, with first deliveries expected in June. The £49,900 on-the-road price includes routine servicing and maintenance for three years, plus VAT.
The first 12 months of production will be dedicated to a fully loaded launch edition. Polestar had previously indicated a cost of around £51,000 for that model and suggested subsequent base models would have a "guide price" of around £34,500, similar to the Model 3.
First displayed at the Geneva motor show and subsequently at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the 2 sits on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which is also used by cars such as the Lynk&Co 01 and Volvo XC40.
It has two electric motors, mounted across both axles for four-wheel drive, and a 27-module, 78kWh battery pack integrated into the floor. Polestar claims the pack contributes to chassis rigidity and helps reduce road noise by 3.7dB compared with a traditional chassis.
The powertrain produces 402bhp and 487lb ft of torque, translating to a 0-62mph time of “less than five seconds”. It’s not clear yet if cheaper variants will receive a detuned version. The range "target" is quoted at 311 miles on the new, tougher WLTP cycle – a figure highly competitive alongside the Model 3 and Jaguar I-Pace.
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