Polestar might have hit the big time with its new Polestar 3 SUV, and the Swedish performance brand is going straight after it again. For its only existing model, the Polestar 2, the Volvo sub-brand presents a new over-the-air update that further enhances the crossover's performance. If 408 horsepower hasn't been enough for your Polestar so far, you can look forward to an extra dose of performance at an affordable price. The only prerequisite besides a credit card - an Internet connection.
Polestar 2 Update Increases Grunt To Almost 500 Horsepower
With the OTA update for the long-range dual motor Polestar 2 already available in other parts of the world, the Swedish performance brand is now bringing the upgrade to North America. While 68 horsepower (51 kW) and 15 pound-feet (20 N-m) of extra torque don't really sound like much at first, they push the crossover's power close to the 500 horsepower mark overall. With the upgrade, the Polestar 2 now mobilizes 476 horsepower (355 kW) and 502 pound-feet (681 N-m) of torque, which almost turns it into a sports car.
The sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour (96 km/h) is improved by three-tenths of a second to 4.2 seconds. By comparison, a Porsche 911 Carrera takes about the same amount of time. Simultaneously, Polestar claims to have also improved the intermediate sprinting capabilities of its first solo model.
Power Upgrade At A Bargain Price
The highlight of the OTA update is that it can be easily ordered via the Internet. Brave new world. Polestar has set up a special website for this purpose, where owners can enter the chassis number of their Polestar 2 and then go through a short ordering process. One might just remember the blissful days when you still had to take your car to a workshop for more performance. However, the price of the power upgrade is even more important than the time and effort involved. And while other manufacturers ask for a hefty payment, Polestar remains modest and charges a reasonable $1,195.
For the new model year, the Polestar 2 received other upgrades in addition to this performance option. In addition to new exterior and interior colors, the dual-engine model's range has been extended to about 260 miles (418 kilometers), an increase of about 5% over the previous model. This is likely to be helped by an improved heat pump, which is said to work better in cold weather in particular. This keeps the Polestar 2 fit for the next few years, when many new siblings await it up to at least number 7.