Polestar has released a less-expensive, less-powerful version of its Polestar 2 electric car.
The new model uses a single motor on the car’s front axle for a front-wheel-drive setup and 231 horsepower. Polestar claims a range of 270 miles per charge.
Until now, the 2 was available only in an all-wheel-drive setup with a motor on each axle. That version makes a robust 408 horsepower, with a range of up to 249 miles.
It also, however, carries an asking price of $49,900, plus a mandatory $1,300 destination fee.
The new model is significantly cheaper, coming in at $45,900 before destination. All Polestar vehicles are eligible for the full $7,500 federal EV tax incentive, reducing the effective price.
The new single-motor variant, Polestar says, can get from a standstill to 60 mph in about 7 seconds. That’s slower than the 4.5 seconds of the dual-motor variety but plenty sufficient for closing holes in traffic. Test drivers find the Polestar 2 pleasant to drive, with a slightly firm ride. Polestar vehicles are known for a long list of standard features.
The primary drawback to buying one might be limited service locations. The company has authorized service providers only in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Orange County, California; along with New York City; Denver; Colorado; Boston; Central and Southern New Jersey; Dallas and Austin Texas; Detroit, Minneapolis; Phoenix; Seattle; Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; Connecticut; South Florida; and Washington, D.C.
