2023 Polestar 2 price could see a hike this year, hints CEO: Report

The Polestar 2, the Chinese-owned Swedish automaker’s only model on sale today, is witnessing strong demand in 2022. On June 9, 2022, the company announced it has received more than 32,000 orders since the start of 2022, which is 290% higher than in the same period in 2021.

While the significant growth in demand is good news for Polestar, the unforeseen challenges faced by the auto industry threatens the progress. CEO Thomas Ingenlath has told Axios in June 2022 that the company had to increase the Polestar 2 prices with the recent model year update and it may have to introduce another price hike by the end of 2022. The new price hike would be due to the increase in the cost of batteries. With the battery being a major fixture in an EV, they have a component now where the cost of raw materials can fluctuate rapidly, according to the CEO.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Polestar 2:

2023 Polestar 2 Design

The Polestar 2’s design is a blend of a sedan and a crossover. It has 5.9 inches of ground clearance, which is crossover-like, but the overall proportions are of a sedan. Upfront, it has the unique Thor’s hammer DRL signatures and a sizable grille, which is more of an artificial design element than a functional one. Most of us know that EVs do not demand large grilles for heavy air intakes. A simple lower air dam is enough for airflow to the battery.

The EV has a flowing roofline that merges neatly with the rear section. At the rear, there are C-shaped LED taillamps that integrate seamlessly with a full-width LED light bar.

The 2023 Polestar 2 has gained 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels in new laser-cut wheel designs and Space (metallic black) and Jupiter (gold-gray metallic with red flake) color options. Plus, Magnesium (metallic light silver) has become a no-cost color option and a body-color roof segment has become standard across the range.

Interior & Features

The Polestar 2 has a clean and simple, Scandinavian-influenced interior. Simultaneously, the usage of advanced technologies is clearly evident, with the 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, the 11.15-inch Google touchscreen infotainment system that appears to float above the center console, and minimal usage of traditional buttons, switches, and knobs. The entire cabin is entirely vegan in the standard configuration.

Improvements

The 2023 Polestar 2 has gained a new Zinc (light gray) ventilated Bridge of Weir Nappa leather upholstery option, which comes with Light Ash wood deco trim. Polestar has improved the efficiency of the heat pump, which it offers in an optional Plus Pack (USD 4,200), with upgraded software. As a result, the heat pump’s working temperature range has expanded from 19º F to 77º F. Plus, occupants will notice reduced heat-up time in the passenger compartment in cool conditions.

Air filtration

Another noteworthy upgrade in the 2023 Polestar 2 with Plus Pack is a more advanced Clean Zone. Revisions in the air filtration system include an improved cabin filter and an upgraded PM2.5 particulate matter sensor. Customers can check the interior air quality in real-time using an exclusive app available for iOS and Android smartphones.

Infotainment

As of mid-2022, the Google infotainment system of the Polestar 2 utilizes the most advanced Android R OS. The advantage of Android R is that it will allow adding new application technologies and updating the system and its apps’ look and feel. Polestar has fixed the biggest grunt of the electric fastback’s customers by adding Apple CarPlay compatibility.

2023 Polestar 2 specifications

Until March 2022, the Polestar 2 was available in the United States only with the dual-motor AWD set-up. American customers now have another option: a more affordable single motor variant with more range than the AWD Polestar 2. It’s better suited for customers who prefer extra range instead of additional horsepower.

The Polestar 2 2WD’s single motor, mounted at the front, produces 231 hp and 243 lb-ft, which is considerably less than the combined power and combined torque of the AWD version’s two motors – 408 hp and 487 lb-ft.

However, the single-motor variant is no slouch when it comes to performance and range. The EV sprints to 60 mph in 7 seconds. The dual-motor variant has remained unchanged. However, Polestar has upgraded the Performance Pack exclusive to the dual-motor variant as part of the MY2023 updates to unlock more power and torque. The company achieved this with upgraded software, which it will offer for MY2021 and MY2022 cars as an OTA upgrade as well.

Performance pack

The Performance Pack increases the dual-motor powertrain’s power from 408 hp to 476 hp and its torque from 487 lb-ft to 502 lb-ft. It includes Ohlins dual flow valve suspension, gold Brembo four-piston front calipers, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, and Continental SportContact 6 summer tires as well. Do note that the price of the Performance Pack has gone up by USD 500 to USD 5,500 along with the release of the 2023 Polestar 2.

The single-motor variant offers an impressive 270 miles EPA-rated range on a single charge, which is 10 miles more range than the AWD model’s Polestar-est. range (260 miles). It may not sound like a lot, but it will undoubtedly make a difference in real-world driving conditions.

Safety

The Swedish EV scored an impressive 5 stars on the stringent Euro NCAP crash tests. The MY2021 model with dual motors was tested and it scored 93% in the adult occupancy test, 89% in child occupancy, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 83% for the effectiveness of safety assists. The results are applicable for the single motor variant as well.

2023 Polestar 2 Price & Release Date

The 2023 Polestar 2 costs USD 48,400 in the single-motor variant and USD 51,900 in the dual-motor variant. Plus, there’s a USD 1,400 destination fee applicable on the price, which brings the total MSRP to USD 49,800 for the single-motor variant and USD 53,300 for the dual-motor variant. Deliveries of the single-motor variant will begin in September 2022. There’s no word on the on-sale date of the 2023 dual-motor variant yet.

Production & Sales

In 2021, Polestar met its global sales target of delivering 29,000 vehicles—a year-on-year growth of 185%. However, the brand did not mention model-wise sales. The majority of sales were attributed to the Polestar 2 while the Polestar 1 PHEV accounted for the rest. The Polestar 2 has been on sale in China and Europe since 2020. The EV is manufactured at parent company Geely and Volvo’s super factory in Luqiao, China, and competes with the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and the 2023 BMW i4.

Featured Image Source: Polestar

Suvrat Kothari Freelance Assistant Editor

I’m an automotive journalist with 4 years of experience in magazine and digital publishing, content creation, social media management and YouTube. A car enthusiast who converted my passion into a profession!