Polestar Video for the Super Bowl

No means go: Polestar at the big game.

A yea-sayer is someone who tends to uncritically agree with others. But driving progress means questioning conventions, old ways, and established methods. Saying no, in other words. No to time wasting, no to smoke screens, and no to short-cuts. So when it comes to following the industry standard, it's a no from us.

Wayne

 

Polestar Cars Announces Design Updates, Improved Range and Pricing for 2023 Polestar 2

Pricing for the updated Polestar 2 Long range Single motor will start at $48,400, or $40,900 including the $7,500 federal tax rebate..

2023 Polestar 2

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Thanks to software improvements, Polestar anticipates a vehicle range increase for the dual-motor Polestar 2 of approximately 11 miles compared to the the current model, expected to reach a preliminary estimated 260-mile US EPA range.

Additionally, the updated model adds a number of new features in a nod to the Polestar design ethos of continual improvement.

Equipment upgrades to the award-winning Polestar 2 include an upgraded heat pump designed for better cold-weather performance, new design options across the interior and exterior of the car, and a more advanced air quality sensor.

The most notable tech improvement is a software update to the mechanical heat pump, which is available as part of the Plus Pack. Thanks to the software changes, the heat pump is designed to now deliver range improvements in a wider range of temperatures, from 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius) to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). Within that temperature range, the heat pump helps increase real-world driving range by approximately 10% beyond that of the standard model. A future Over-the-Air (OTA) update will upgrade existing Polestar 2 cars equipped with the heat pump, free of charge.

New design touches for 2023 are two exterior colors and one new interior option, inspired by the Polestar 1 electric performance hybrid. Outside, Polestar 2 adopts the same “Space” metallic black color previously offered on the Polestar 1, and a new “Jupiter” metallic shade. “Magnesium” is now the standard, cost-free exterior color. Both the standard 19-inch and optional 20-inch wheels have striking new designs.

Inside, a new ventilated Nappa leather option is available in a light grey “Zinc” color, which is paired with new Light Ash wood trim. The leather is sourced from a new supplier, Bridge of Weir, known for their sustainability and animal welfare credentials, and a quality grade only found elsewhere in bespoke luxury and supercar cabins. Thanks to strong customer demand, Polestar has also developed a removable mesh sunshade for vehicles with the panoramic glass roof.

Cars fitted with the Plus Pack now include an advanced cabin air filter helping improve cabin air, and new air quality sensor and app will allow drivers to see a breakdown of the air circulating outside of the vehicle, including pollen types. This includes a list-type visualization on the vehicle center screen.

Additional to the Performance Pack for 2023 is a performance software upgrade. The upgrade adds 68 horsepower and 15 lb-ft of torque to the car. The Performance Pack is only available for dual-motor variant. The software will also be available to purchase as a separate software upgrade – for both existing and future dual-motor cars, with and without the Performance Pack. More information regarding timing and pricing will be announced later this year.

With deliveries beginning in September, the single-motor 2023 Polestar 2 Long range Single motor is priced at $48,400 before any federal, state, or utility rebates. The 2023 Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor is priced from $51,900. Both variants qualify for the $7,500 federal electric car incentive, as well as numerous state and local incentives.

The latest changes build on the regular enhancements that are sent via Over-the-Air (OTA) updates to all Polestar 2 owners. Many major updates have already been sent OTA to vehicles, delivering around 100 upgrades such as increased range, satellite radio, an eco climate setting and charging improvements.

 

Hi All:

From the Precept to the Polestar 5, Concept to near production Prototype in just 5-years. A well thought out Macan/Taycan/Q6/RS competitor is in the works from the ground up.

Polestar Precept Concept




Polestar 5 Prototype

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Polestar 5 Base Specs

Planned for a 2025 launch, the Polestar 5 is an electric performance 4-door GT built on the brand’s first EV architecture. Developed by the Polestar's UK R&D team, the bonded aluminum platform will house an 800V architecture and some of the most powerful electric motors on the market – developed by Polestar R&D in Sweden. Polestar 5 is expected to produce up to 884 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque.

Polestar 5 is the production evolution of Polestar Precept concept launched in 2020 to showcase the future ambitions of Polestar. The interior specifically featured innovative new materials like natural fiber composite deco panels made from flax fiber, and 3D-knitted upholstery made from recycled PET – both of which are already making their production debuts in Polestar 3 and Polestar 4.

Although Polestar will probably not be able to incorporate the StoreDot XFC tech into an 83.4 kWh battery - measured from the video details, into the Polestar 5 production battery, if they did, this is what we could expect.

The Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology was tested in a car for the first time, charging a Polestar 5 prototype from 10-80% in just 10 minutes. The fully driveable verification prototype saw a consistent charge rate starting at 310 kW and rising to a peak in excess of 370 kW at the end of charging.

This world-first demonstration of a 10 minute 10-80% extreme fast charge using silicon-dominant cells in a drivable vehicle – rather than laboratory cells – is the continuation of Polestar’s commitment to developing the best driving experience for the future through innovative technology partnerships. The specially commissioned 77 kWh battery pack – which has the potential to be increased to at least 100 kWh, could add 200 miles of range to a mid-sized electric car in just 10 minutes.

This XFC test by Polestar and StoreDot battery engineers was designed to demonstrate XFC battery technology that could be applied to "FUTURE" Polestar vehicles.

StoreDot’s revolutionary XFC technology utilizes silicon-dominant cells with an energy density on par with state-of-the-art NMC cells and does not require specialized cooling systems within the vehicle. The experimental XFC battery’s modules have a structural function which improves mechanical properties and cooling ability while maintaining or reducing weight levels, with high recyclability and serviceability also paramount in the design of the pack.

In today's commercial EV batteries, fast charging rates can vary greatly depending on the battery’s state of charge (SOC), sometimes dropping significantly as SOC increases. During this test, Polestar saw charging speed rise from 310 kW at 10% SOC to over 370 kW at 80% SOC, proving the technology’s steady charging rate with no significant change in charging speed or efficiency whenever a driver decides to stop within this wide state-of-charge range.

Importantly, the test proves XFC technology works with today’s DC charging infrastructure, which continues to feature more high-power DC chargers of 350 kW or higher.

This means drivers will be able to spend less time stopped to charge their vehicle, which for a 10-80% charge on many modern EVs could still take around 30 minutes. By reducing that time to 10 minutes, the charging time for a vehicle with XFC technology is much closer to what you would experience when filling a car with petrol. And thanks to the consistent charge speeds on offer, with a suitable charger, consumers could stop for five minutes at 50% SOC and continue their journey with over 80% SOC.

Wayne