Faster, experimental version of Polestar 2 electric car revealed
Electric car maker Polestar has revealed a quicker, performance-focused version of its electric car, simply called the 2.
Unveiled at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed today (July 8), the experimental Polestar 2 is more powerful and features improved suspension and brakes in a bid to set a record time at the festival's hill-climb event this weekend.
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The experimental Polestar 2 is powered by a 350kW motor (476 horsepower, up from 408 on the standard car), and features high-performance brakes and wheels from the Polestar 1, plus tuned suspension and enhanced handling characteristics.
Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath said: "I challenged the design and engineering teams to play with Polestar 2 and come up with something that makes a strong statement for Goodwood. For a few months I have enjoyed driving another experimental Polestar 2, nicknamed 'Beast', around our Gothenburg campus, which inspired the team to come up with this version for Goodwood."
Ingenlath added: "We want to flex our muscles and explore opportunities."
Further enhancements for the experimental car include a stronger stance with a track that is 10mm wider on each side, a 30mm lower right height, widened wheel arches housing 21-inch wheels and high-performance six-piston Akebono front brakes from the Polestar 1. The car also borrows a set of sticky Pirelli PZero Rosso performance tires from the Polestar 1.
The springs have been stiffened by 80 percent at the front and 40 percent at the rear, along with upgraded dampers that are 30 percent stiffer than before.
Polestar has not said yet whether a version of this experimental car will be sold to the public. But given the work the company has put in here, we wouldn't be surprised to see a new flagship version of the Polestar 2 later this year or in 2022.
Joakim Rydholm, Polestar chief chassis engineer, said: "This car is what happens when we are given freedom to go beyond our limits. We already have such great handling and performance characteristics in Polestar 2, but when Thomas asked me to make something special for Goodwood, I was really excited to up the stakes."
