When it comes to Polestar's second model -- simply named Polestar 2 -- there's already a lot to love. It's handsome, reasonably priced and, in true Swedish fashion, it's just a little bit different from any other EV on the road. That's not going to stop Polestar from making it a bit better for the 2022 model year, and according to an announcement made by the company on Thursday, it's done precisely that.
To start, the Polestar 2 will be offered for the first time with a single-motor powertrain. This is going to do a lot of things for potential buyers. First, it's going to increase the Polestar's range. Secondly, and maybe most importantly, it's going to lower the vehicle's cost. The increased range is expected to be around 265 miles, which doesn't even include the new, optional heat pump that Polestar claims will boost range by up to 10% in certain situations. Sure, that's not quite Model S territory, but it ain't bad.
Polestar isn't saying much about the single-motor car's power output, but the dual-motor version still makes a very healthy 408 horsepower and gets a 16-mile bump in range versus the 2021 model. Given how nice it is to drive the 2021 dual-motor car, we expect that even the single-motor version with less power will still be pretty sweet.
Pricing for the single-motor version starts at $47,200, but, like many other EVs, it's subject to a whole array of federal, state and local tax credits and incentives, so many buyers will likely end up paying less. The dual-motor version starts at $51,200, and both those numbers include Polestar's $1,300 destination charge. Buyers will still have the option of selecting from the Pilot ($3,200) and Plus ($4,000) option packs, but single-motor buyers can't get the Performance pack ($5,000). Nappa leather will also continue to be offered for a $4,000 premium, as will larger wheels and metallic paint.
Potential buyers can configure their 2022 Polestar 2 now on Polestar's website, and the first deliveries of 2022 models are expected to begin at the end of 2021.
Update, 9:27 a.m. PT: A previous version of this story said that the 265-mile range was achieved with the optional heat pump, but it was in fact achieved without it.