GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Polestar has released a performance-oriented software upgrade for the Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor in selected European markets. The software upgrade represents the first time Polestar has applied its tuning heritage to its own electric cars. It has already seen enthusiastic pick-up from Polestar 2 owners – over 400 upgrades have been downloaded in its first weeks of availability since late November.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO says: “The upgrade highlights how connected technologies can transform the relationship a car company has with its customers. The driving experience in Polestar 2 is something we are really proud of. It is such a fun car to drive already, but with this upgrade we can offer even more to our customers who might be after a little extra excitement.”
Born in motorsport in the late 1990s, Polestar’s racetrack and performance tuning genetics are still very present in its modern electric performance vehicle DNA.
Previewed earlier in 2021 in the experimental Polestar 2 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the upgrade adds 50 kW and 20 Nm to the already high-output dual-motor powertrain for a total of 350 kW (476 hp) and 680 Nm (502 lb. ft).
Additional responsiveness also produces a sportier driving experience overall, and the 0-100 km/h sprint time has been reduced to 4,4 seconds. The additional power and torque is available as a ‘boost’ between 70 and 130 km/h, resulting in even more rapid acceleration in the mid-range. Accelerating from 80 to 120 km/h takes just 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 enthusiastic 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 ability to buy online and install remotely also highlights Polestar’s proficiency in the increasingly digital automotive world.
In addition to delivering an enhanced driving experience to customers, 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, Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW and GGPIU), which is expected to close in the first half of 2022.
