Almost for Normies: Polestar 2 Enters Production As Other Automakers Go Dark

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems
almost for normies polestar 2 enters production as other automakers go dark

Now fully an automotive brand, Polestar aims to attract more than just a limited number of hugely wealthy customers. That was Polestar 1. Now it’s time for Polestar 2, a more affordable, four-door electric sedan with sporting prowess and eco-consciousness in spades.

How did Polestar pull off the unusual feat of starting production of a new model when assembly lines across the globe are going dark amid the coronavirus pandemic? Because production is occurring in China, the country that birthed the virus, then left it on its neighbors’ doorsteps.

Hopefully the professionally aggrieved won’t be offended by that controversial slice of reality.

Yes, Geely-owned Polestar, like its former Volvo parent, has the advantage of having Chinese manufacturing space carved out for it. That country is coming back online following a self-reported lessening of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Like Volvo’s compact XC40 crossover, the Polestar 2 utilizes the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform; it went into production alongside that CUV in a Luqiao, China plant and greeted its first customer-bound models on Monday. European customers should receive theirs this summer, with U.S. buyers waiting until later in the year for a taste of the $63k Launch Edition.

Polestar 2’s specs are quite competitive. Twin electric motors front and rear put out a combined 408 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque, which doesn’t add up to a tepid driving experience. Those motors draw current from a 78 kWh battery pack. While driving range isn’t known, the EPA figure is expected to be far closer to 300 miles than 200.

Obviously, the Polestar 2’s main rival will be the Tesla Model 3 — a model that also recently started up production in China.

[Image: Polestar]

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  • Mike A Mike A on Mar 24, 2020

    Polestar interior looks great, exterior more so-so. If specs are as detailed it should do well. The roll out is limited for the first year to seven countries, which include the US. However that is only California so it is going to be a while before anyone else can get one. As for the comment on the origin of the virus, no&one could seriously call you out. It did start in China and it seems some legal action will follow.

    • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Mar 24, 2020

      "it seems some legal action will follow." What legal action? China owns us lock, stock and barrel. We depend on China on everything even medication and ventilators.

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Mar 24, 2020

    "Almost for Normies: Polestar 2 Enters Production As Other Automakers Go Dark" $63k for a Polestar 2 is "almost for normies" $60k for a Model 3P is a "rich mans's toy" Got it.

    • Art Vandelay Art Vandelay on Mar 25, 2020

      Lol. Yep, funny how that works. Not a Tesla fanboi, but I root for them as they are a US company and one that the rest of the world is chasing at that. Not sure where they get off pricing a new, Chinese entrant over the established leader. At least the Taycan is a Porsche...this is just more Chinese garbage from a brand nobody has heard of.

  • Cprescott I remember when Fords were affordable.
  • Cprescott As a once very LOYAL FORD buyer, I had to replace my 22 year old Ford (bought new in 1997) once it finally started to have problems at 180k miles. I would have gladly purchased something like this from Ford but they abandoned me as a car buyer. Oddly, Hyundai still builds cars in a variety of flavors so I became a customer of theirs and am very happy. Likely will consider another once this one gets up in mileage.
  • SCE to AUX A friend once struck a mounted tire that was laying flat in the middle of her lane on the PA Turnpike. She was in a low late-90s Grand Prix, and the impact destroyed the facia, core support, radiators, oil pan, transmission, subframe, and suspension. They fixed it all.
  • Dukeisduke Lol, it's not exactly a Chevrolet SS with Holden badging.
  • Dukeisduke Years ago, I was driving southbound along North Central Expressway (south of Mockingbird Lane, for locals), and watched a tire and wheel fall out of the bed of a pickup (no tailgate), bounce along, then centerpunch the front end of a Honda Accord. It wasn't pretty.
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