Polestar 2 gets performance software upgrade

Polestar has released a performance-oriented software upgrade for the electric Polestar 2 Long Range Dual motor in nine European markets such as the United Kingdom and Germany.

Availability in other Polestar markets will be confirmed in the future, with Auckland-based Giltrap Group Polestar’s official representative in New Zealand and interested customers able to register here.

The software upgrade represents the first time Polestar has applied its tuning heritage to its own electric cars. More than 400 upgrades have been downloaded by Polestar 2 owners in the first weeks of availability since late November.

 “The upgrade highlights how connected technologies can transform the relationship a car company has with its customers,” Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath says.

“With this upgrade we can offer even more to our customers who might be after a little extra excitement.”

Previewed earlier in 2021 in the experimental Polestar 2 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the upgrade adds 50kW and 20Nm to the already high-output dual-motor powertrain for a total of 350kW and 680Nm.

 Additional responsiveness also produces a sportier driving experience overall, and the zero to 100km/h sprint time has been reduced to 4.4 seconds.

The additional power and torque is available as a ‘boost’ between 70 and 130km/h, resulting in even more rapid acceleration in the mid-range. Accelerating from 80 to 120km/h takes 2.2 seconds, half a second quicker than in the standard car.

With the existing Polestar Engineered performance software tuning business already seeing Polestar applying its engineering expertise to certain hybrid Volvo vehicles, the new development presents an opportunity for fully electric vehicles and allows Polestar 2 drivers to increase the output of the all-wheel drive powertrain and enjoy a sharper driving experience.

The upgrade is rolling out for customers with eligible cars in the Polestar Extras web shop as a software download that is delivered remotely to their Polestar 2 via an over-the-air update.

The development also allows Polestar to continue to explore alternate revenue streams and further strengthen its financial position ahead of its proposed business combination with Gores Guggenheim, which is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

During the next three years Polestar plans to launch one new EV annually, starting with the Polestar 3 SUV in 2022, the smaller SUV coupe Polestar 4 expected to follow in 2023 and the Polestar 5 electric performance four-door GT in 2024.