Polestar, an electric car brand owned by Volvo, has yet to receive nearly as much attention as its rivals. Although the Polestar 2 beat Tesla for a prestigious award once, the Model 3 has undoubtedly sold more units. It doesn’t help that the Polestar 1 will be discontinued this year, leaving only the Polestar 2 in the automaker’s lineup.

Still, it seems that Polestar has big plans for its future vehicles. A new press release reveals that an “experimental” Polestar 2 showcased its racing chops at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Is it that much different from the previous Polestar models?

Polestar’s current lineup

The Polestar 1 was the automaker’s debut model, released for the 2017 model year. It has a turbo-four paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 375 hp for just the front wheels. The rear wheels feature two additional electric motors, unleashing its total potential of 619 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque.

The Polestar 1 also comes paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, torque-vectoring rear differential, an electronic suspension, and enhanced dampers. However, Car and Driver warns that you have to pop the hood each time you adjust these dampers. Despite this minor annoyance, C/D was impressed with the Polestar 1’s speed and electric range, which is 52 miles with a fully charged battery. 

Car and Driver was also fond of the Polestar 1’s overall styling but found its ride fairly uncomfortable. The cabin itself is far more luxurious and accommodating, but it has a tiny back seat row. It also comes equipped with cutting-edge technology, though its value for drivers is questionable with a price tag of $155,000.

Elsewhere, the current Polestar 2 is fully electric with a range of either 273 or 233 miles, depending on drivetrain choice. The base 2022 Polestar 2 Single Motor makes 231 hp, while the dual-motor AWD makes 408 hp. Polestar says the latter model can reach 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

The Polestar 2 Dual Motor is also available with a few packages containing Brembo brakes, adjustable dampers, and a racing suspension. The base suspension is softer, so you might want to stick with that if the Polestar 2 is your everyday driving choice. 

The Single Motor variant might be less powerful, but it will give you more range than the Dual Motor. Additionally, both versions are more affordable than the Polestar 1, with neither exceeding $60,000.

The experimental Polestar 2

According to AutoWeek, the new Polestar 2’s total horsepower increased to 476 hp with a dual-motor setup. It has stiffer springs and dampers, plus wider wheel arches. It also features the same brakes and Pirelli tires as the coveted Polestar 1.

This enhanced Polestar 2’s ride height has also been lowered by one inch, which will improve its handling. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing than the previous Polestar 2 with its racing stripe and glossy new exterior components. The festival has passed, but you can watch the full live stream to see the car in action on YouTube.

Will the new Polestar be a big success?

The Polestar 2 raced at Goodwood was merely fine-tuned to showcase its true capabilities. As such, it’s unlikely that this specific model will be available for consumers to purchase. The automaker instead encourages drivers to look forward to the Polestar 3, its first all-electric SUV.

Additionally, the Polestar Precept, an electric luxury sedan, is on track for a release as a 2023 model. Polestar also hopes to create its first carbon-neutral car by 2030. With that in mind, Polestar may have had an uneventful start, but it’s clear that the automaker is taking great strides to stay relevant.