2021 Polestar 2 to Take on Tesla Model 3 With $61K Starting Price

Polestar has announced pricing for its second vehicle, aptly named the Polestar 2. Its first car, the Polestar 1, made a splash with its stunning looks and impressive performance, but the qualities befitting a range-topping car like the 1 give it a range-topping price. The 2 — an all-electric sedan as opposed to the coupe body style of the 1 — has a more palatable starting price of $61,200 (including a $1,300 destination fee), far less than the 1’s hefty $156,500 base price, and that’s before any federal or state electric vehicle tax credits.

Related: 2020 Polestar 1 Review: Polestar’s First Car Is a Triumph

The Polestar 2 sedan produces 408 horsepower and 487 pounds-feet of torque using electricity stored in a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, giving it 275 miles of range and a Polestar-purported 0-62-mph time of less than 5 seconds. It also comes standard with an infotainment system that uses the Android operating system.

Additional standard features currently comprise a full set of safety technologies — including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic collision avoidance and mitigation — and comfort features including a panoramic moonroof, heated front and rear seats, and a Harman Kardon premium stereo. Those are included in the Pilot and Plus packages, respectively, which are both currently standard. It’s also available with four options:

• Performance Pack, $5,000: Ohlins suspension dampers, upgraded Brembo front brakes, 20-inch quad Y-spoke wheels, and gold seat belts and valve stem caps
• Nappa leather interior, $4,000
• 20-inch V-spoke wheels, $1,200
• Five metallic exterior paint colors, $1,200 each

Polestar intentionally priced the 2 low enough for it to be eligible for state EV credits in New York and California, and it’s currently eligible for a full federal tax credit of $7,500. The $61,200 starting price, without credits, is more than the Tesla Model 3 Performance, its chief competitor.

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Production of the Polestar 2 began in late March with deliveries scheduled for summer, and customers can place a $1,000 deposit to reserve one now. In the current time of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the purchase process can be done entirely online, but there are plans to open physical showrooms along the West Coast and in New York later in the summer, with additional locations to follow.

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