The 2024 Polestar 2 Gets New Face, Upgraded Motors, and Rear-Wheel Drive

Electric vehicles offer a truly clean-sheet approach to developing a vehicle’s powertrain, which is why some automakers opt to develop single-motor EVs that are front-wheel drive, and others build rear-wheel-drive EVs—a more entertaining prospect as far as we’re concerned. The Polestar 2 was one such EV in the former category, but now that’s changed; the all-electric Swedish automaker has announced the single-motor 2024 Polestar 2 will go rear-wheel drive, and all trims get power and tech upgrades for the new model year.

The more obvious visual changes to the 2024 Polestar 2 include its new mug that now sports even more driver-assistance hardware, including a forward-facing camera and radar sensor in its nose panel, like the recently-revealed Polestar 3 SUV that’s also due for production later this year. The 2024 Polestar 2 also grabs the 3’s Performance Pack wheel design.

The Dual-Motor Polestar 2 is available with the optional Plus Pack, which drops in price from $4,200 to $2,200 and features a range-protecting heat pump, Harmon Kardon audio, a standard panoramic moonroof, an interior air quality filtration system, and heated wipers, steering wheel, and front seats. Max available power on the Dual-Motor Polestar 2 is available with the 455-hp Performance Pack with an improved 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds, featuring Brembo brakes, Öhlins DFV adjustable dampers, and Swedish Gold accents. The Dual Motor 2 is also now standard with the Pilot Pack, previously a $3,400 option, with adaptive cruise control, cornering fog lights, rear-collision mitigation, and emergency stop assist.

The driving dynamics of the new 2 may improve, as Polestar has introduced upgraded electric motors and inverters in every variant of the sedan, boosting efficiency, range, and power in a rear-wheel-drive format, and the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive 2 will now be more rear-biased in its power delivery as well.

The single motor boosts its power from 231 horsepower up to 299 hp, and a whopping increase in torque from 243 lb-ft to 361 lb-ft. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive 2 hops from 408 hp up to 421 hp now, and leaps from 467 lb-ft of torque up to 546 lb-ft. For efficiency, the dual-motor 2 can now disengage its front motor in certain scenarios.

The new motors and inverters make for better efficiency claims, as Polestar now says the long range dual-motor is expected to get around 270 miles and the long-range single-motor 2 is now expected to get 320 miles of total range on single charge, the latter thanks to an increase in battery capacity to 82 kWh. Max charging speed for the long-range single-motor has improved to a max of 205 kW of direct current.

Along with all of the other improvements, Polestar claims the new 82 kWh battery pack in some long-range models features new cell chemistry that reduces estimated associated carbon emissions by 1.1 tons, from 7 tons per car down to 5.9. All models now benefit from wireless phone charging in the cabin.