2020 Polestar 2Supplied / Polestar Gradually — very gradually a cynic might say — we’re getting a handle on this whole Polestar project. In San Francisco, not far from the Silicon Valley startups that seem to influence so much of Polestar’s modus operandi, the Swedish/Chinese upstart peeled away yet another layer of the onion that is its first all-electric car, the Polestar 2. What this latest layer revealed is an interior worthy of its German — and, not forgetting Tesla, its American — competition, a little more detail on the pricing/range equation and a whole bunch on how Polestar plans on flogging its emissions-reduced performance future. First and foremost, Polestar in Canada will, no surprise here, focus its attention on the sophisticated hubs of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, places where its new sales language — one doesn’t go to a dealer anymore, you visit a space and you certainly don’t “option” your car, you “curate” it — will find a welcome home. Initial “Launch” cars will cost $69,000 and will include everything but the Sport Package (20-inch tires and Ohlins suspension) and leather seats (the standard seat coverings are vegan, by the way). That’s for the 78 kilowatt-hour version that boast a 275-mile EPA-assured range and 500 kilometres EU rated range (if you’re wondering why those numbers don’t convert, it’s because, like all continental ratings, their EV testing standards are a little more, uhm, liberal). Rumours of a shorter-range, possibly 40 kWh, version are exactly that; rumour. China will be getting an entry-level version but the cheapest 2 we Nord Americanos will see will be a stripped 78-kWh version that will undercut the launch version by some 10 grand. It will also only arrive after the “Launch” version, which is due in about a year from now. One last interesting little tidbit: At least initially, the 2 will be available for traditional purchase or lease as well as the “subscription” basis that the company is pushing so hard. The big news from this latest (of what is sure to be many) reveal was a quick peek at Google’s new embedded — as opposed to projected, i.e. from your phone — in-car infotainment system. Called Android Automotive — yes, I easily confused it with Android Auto too — it is an even more seamless integration of the Google user interface into the touchscreen, which, unsurprisingly, looks an awful lot like Volvo’s 11-inch portrait-oriented screen. We’ll be covering its operation in tomorrow’s Motor Mouth, but we’ll leave you with this little tidbit. The Polestar 2 doesn’t require a key. You don’t even have to push a button to start it. Your phone is the key and a weight sensor in the driver’s seat is the electric motor’s on/off switch. Tres
Origin: Polestar reveals more details about its upcoming 2 EV