Photo: Polestar
Aimed squarely at the ever-popular Tesla Model 3, what Polestar calls the 2 has a tough act to follow. Not only does the Palo Alto-based automaker feature the more desirable badge, but safety-wise, the Model 3 is up there with the best of them.
Featuring the Top Safety Pick+ accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and five stars out of five from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Tesla sets the bar pretty high for the Swedish brand from Gothenburg. Having said that, Polestar is introducing “new technologies for the Volvo Car Group” in the guise of inner-side airbags for the front passenger and driver as well as the SPOC Block.
SPOC is an acronym for Severe Partial Offset Crash, but what does it actually mean per se? According to Polestar, the solid block of aluminum housed on the bottom edge of the firewall is meant to minimize intrusion into the cabin and towards the battery. The lithium-ion pack is also designed to automatically disconnect in the event of a crash, and if you were wondering, the battery is housed within the floor of the chassis.
CMA is how Polestar and Volvo call the platform in question, the basis for the XC40 and upcoming models from the 40 series. For all-electric applications like the 2, the Compact Modular Architecture can handle dual-motor powertrains with up to 408 PS (402 horsepower) and tons of torque. The same ratings apply to the XC40 Recharge P8.
“Polestar cars are designed to be among the safest in the world,” said chief executive officer Thomas Ingenlath. Just like Volvo, “safety is of paramount importance for Polestar.” But wait; the safety mumbo-jumbo doesn’t end here, oh no it doesn’t!
A new generation of Advanced Driver Assistance System technology rolls out with the 2, including Pilot Assist. As the name implies, the car can accelerate, brake, and steer by itself at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph). It remains to be seen if this level of autonomy can rival the Autopilot from Tesla, but nevertheless, it’s a very good start for Polestar.
As opposed to the 1 plug-in hybrid grand tourer, the 2 is manufactured in China for the entire world. Over in the United States of America, pricing starts at $59,900 as opposed to the $63,000 the company has previously announced. For reference, the Model 3 Long Range with the dual-motor option retails at $48,990 and the Performance is $56,990.
SPOC is an acronym for Severe Partial Offset Crash, but what does it actually mean per se? According to Polestar, the solid block of aluminum housed on the bottom edge of the firewall is meant to minimize intrusion into the cabin and towards the battery. The lithium-ion pack is also designed to automatically disconnect in the event of a crash, and if you were wondering, the battery is housed within the floor of the chassis.
CMA is how Polestar and Volvo call the platform in question, the basis for the XC40 and upcoming models from the 40 series. For all-electric applications like the 2, the Compact Modular Architecture can handle dual-motor powertrains with up to 408 PS (402 horsepower) and tons of torque. The same ratings apply to the XC40 Recharge P8.
“Polestar cars are designed to be among the safest in the world,” said chief executive officer Thomas Ingenlath. Just like Volvo, “safety is of paramount importance for Polestar.” But wait; the safety mumbo-jumbo doesn’t end here, oh no it doesn’t!
A new generation of Advanced Driver Assistance System technology rolls out with the 2, including Pilot Assist. As the name implies, the car can accelerate, brake, and steer by itself at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph). It remains to be seen if this level of autonomy can rival the Autopilot from Tesla, but nevertheless, it’s a very good start for Polestar.
As opposed to the 1 plug-in hybrid grand tourer, the 2 is manufactured in China for the entire world. Over in the United States of America, pricing starts at $59,900 as opposed to the $63,000 the company has previously announced. For reference, the Model 3 Long Range with the dual-motor option retails at $48,990 and the Performance is $56,990.
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