New Motors, More Range, New Look For Updated 2024 Polestar 2

The Volvo-spinoff Polestar 2 all-electric hatchback first arrived in 2020 and to keep things fresh and competitive, engineers applied a sizable update for 2024. Revisions announced on Tuesday to the five-door liftback include upgraded electric motors, a facelift, more standard equipment, better range and, for the first time ever, the choice of rear-wheel drive. 

Future Fixes

Updated electric motors and an upgraded battery pack boost power and total driving range considerably. Though most notable of all, rear-wheel drive replaces the current front-wheel-drive layout for the single-motor variant. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Polestar 2 remains optional.

Prior, either the front wheels delivered power to the ground for the two-wheel drive Polestar 2. With the 2024 model year update, it’ll strictly power the aft wheels, meaning that the front-wheel drive version will be discontinued.

“Changing from front- to rear-wheel drive in the single-motor variants and re-calibrating the torque ratio in the dual-motor variant for an increased rear-wheel drive feel, elevates the Polestar 2 driving experience to a whole new level,” Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s head of chassis development, said in a statement. “The updated Polestar 2 is an even more playful and agile car, retaining its compactness and complete sense of control, while at the same time becoming more mature with added comfort.”

Boosted Bonus

In addition to the change in powertrain layout, the single-motor variant power jumps to 299 horsepower and an impressive 361 pound-feet of torque, up from 231 hp and 243 lb-ft, respectively, while the dual-motor version sees a bump to 421 hp and 546 lb-ft, from 408 hp and 467 lb-ft.

The result is a reduction in the zero-to-60 sprint time by over 1 second for the two-wheel model, down to 5.9 seconds from 7. The dual-motor takes a tenth of a second longer when comparing the factory times, 4.3 versus 4.2. Though the optional Performance Pack squeezes out even more juice, resulting in an output bump to 455 hp and a zero-to-60 time of 4.1 seconds.

Despite the extra performance, driving range increases to up to 300 miles for the single-motor, up from 270, while the dual-motor can go as far as 270 miles, versus the outgoing 260—a result of a new and improved 82 kWh battery versus the old 78 kWh pack. The new pack on the rear-wheel-drive Polestar 2 also benefits from faster charging—up to 205 kW versus 155 kW.

A Fresh Face

Polestar’s new “SmartZone” approach to vehicle design and engineering also visually takes form on the 2 on the vehicle’s front end. The philosophy takes into account the newfound standardized use of driver assists and safety systems, rather than the air intake and venting requirements once required to aid internal combustion engine performance.

But since the Polestar 2 is all-electric, it doesn’t need a large grille to cool an engine that isn’t there. Thus, the front end is sculpted in a form-following-function approach, with sensory technology in mind. It looks similar to the front end of the yet-to-be-released Polestar 3 SUV. 

All dual-motor versions will also now get the once-optional Pilot Pack as standard, adding blind-spot detection with steering-based collision mitigation, rear-cross traffic alert with automatic braking and collision mitigation, radar-guided cruise control, a 360-degree parking camera system, auto-dimming mirrors and full LED fog lights with cornering assist. 

Opting for the Performance Pack now means you’ll also receive the Pilot Pack for a large overall package with upgraded Brembo performance brakes, Öhlins Dual Flow Valve dampers, Polestar software, gold seatbelts and bespoke 20-inch forged wheels.

Pricing has yet to be released, but the current 2023 models start at $48,400 for the single motor and $51,900 for dual. We anticipate pricing will be made available later in the year and will likely include a price bump. 

“We are constantly working to improve our products and with the next-generation electric motors we have made the switch to rear-wheel drive,” a Polestar rep exclusively told Forbes Wheels. “In 2023, as a whole, Polestar anticipates global volumes to increase by nearly 60% to approximately 80,000 cars, led by strong Polestar 2 sales, and later in the year the first deliveries of Polestar 3.”