In March, Polestar, the electric performance car brand joint venture of Volvo Car Group and Zhejiang Geely Holding, revealed its next model. Called Polestar 2, it is the company’s first fully electric, higher volume premium car designed to compete with Tesla’s Model 3, with many similar features and functions. It is based on Volvo Car Group’s adaptable Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, which also underpins the Volvo XC40 crossover. “Design-led” features abound, driver proximity sensing enables a welcome lighting sequence, and aerodynamic refinement was a focus. The all-wheel-drive electric powertrain features a 150-kW, 330-N·m (244-lb·ft) electric motor per axle, for total output of 300 kW and 660 N·m (487 lb·ft) and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in less than 5 s. Standard leather-free, Weave Tech “vegan” seats are 30% lighter, saving 4 kg (8.8 lb) per car. The two electric motors and a long-range 78-kW·h battery capacity (China gets a 72-kW·h unit) enable a targeted range of 500 km (310 mi) on the WLTP (Europe) and NEDC (China) test cycles, 275 mi (443 km) EPA rated for the U.S. The long-range, 27-module battery pack has 324 cells in 12 modules integrated into the floor, and surprisingly double stacked in areas like the central tunnel and under the rear seat to conform to the CMA platform. But inside may be one of the key defining features. Polestar’s car is the first in the world to embed Google’s Android for infotainment, bringing embedded Google services and apps. And Polestar 2 will be the first production car with advanced driver-assistance systems from Zenuity, the joint-venture between Volvo and supplier Veoneer for ADAS/autonomous driving software. Production begins in February 2020 in China for global markets in both left- and right-hand drive.

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