Easy horsepower has been a mainstay of the tuning industry for decades; who hasn't been tempted by plug-and-play ECU gains, cranking up the boost a tad or just trying a tank of V-Power for some extra horsepower? The desire for increased output won't die off in the EV era, either, regardless of how potent they might be from the factory. It's a lot easier to fiddle with batteries than it is cams, valves and exhausts, after all.
It's a bandwagon Polestar is now jumping on, with a software upgrade that "represents the first time Polestar has applied its tuning heritage to its own electric cars." Previous Polestar Engineered packs have been available for hybrid and combustion-engined Volvos, so this feels a logical progression. Recently launched for the 2 via the Polestar Extras web shop, the download increases the car's maximum power and torque to 476hp and 502lb ft - matching the output of the prototype 2 seen at Festival of Speed. With the update 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds is said to be possible, with 50-75mph completed in just 2.2 seconds. No mention is made of any impact on range or efficiency.
It really is as simple as updating your phone, too, or so it seems - an over-the-air update that makes your car faster. Polestar is promising a "sharper driving experience" with the extra power, which shows off the brand's "proficiency in the increasingly automotive digital world." The days of waiting for performance-enhancing parts to be delivered will be a distant memory...
With more Polestar models in the pipeline, expect additional tuning packages to follow in time. It's available for UK 2 customers, although pricing hasn't been confirmed; Polestar has merely said it costs "on average EUR 1000", which is currently around £850. So apparently tuning won't get any cheaper in the EV era even if it is more easily accessed. Thomas Ingenlath added: "The driving experience in Polestar 2 is something we are really proud of. It is such a fun car to drive already, but with this upgrade we can offer even more to our customers who might be after a little extra excitement."
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