The Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack keeps us company during this year’s Lions Home Fun(d) Drive
Singapore - “Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack” is a bit of a mouthful, but it’ll dispatch the 0-100km/h in 4.5secs, a shockingly shorter time than it’ll take you to say it.
It’s not the fastest EV we’ve driven, but it’s plenty quick for Singapore roads. Some might even say it’s too quick, but I reckon it all depends on what you’re looking for in an EV.
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The Polestar 2 LRDM Performance Pack is to keep us company as we take part in the Lions Club “Lions Home Fun(d) Drive 2024”, which raises funds in aid of the Lions Home for the Elders.
At time of writing, the rally has raised over S$300,000, with another week-plus left to the campaign.
We’re to start and end at the Singapore Flyer, with the route taking us all the way to the Lions Homes in Bedok and Bishan, before we end up back in the Amoy Street and Telok Ayer areas of the Central Business District for the remaining checkpoints on foot – ain’t gonna get more eco-friendly that that!
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At the staging point for the 90 participating cars, there’s a convivial, almost carnival atmosphere to the melee as all manner of intriguing motors jostle for this petrolhead’s attention. (Photo above supplied by the Lions Club)
There’s a rousing turnout from the Friends of Classic contingent, with a classic G-wagen, various generations of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and even a Mk2 Jaguar rubbing shoulders at the flag-off point (Photo above supplied by the Lions Club).
At the other end of the spectrum sit the modern exotics, which have come out in a show of force to add some visual oomph to the proceedings.
And then there’s our sharply designed Polestar 2, which is sitting calm and collected amidst the hustle and bustle that accompanies every flag-off, smug in the knowledge it’ll operate at zero emissions for the entire drive.
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Thanks to hardware upgrades, the MY24 iteration can now travel up to 22 per cent further, consume up to 9 per cent less energy and charge up to 34 per cent faster.
The great thing about an EV is we can keep it running with the air-con on without worrying about any exhaust fumes, which is great for the recent spate of hot weather we’ve been enduring.
The Polestar 2 is one of those “smart” EVs that turns itself on when the driver is strapped-in, the door is closed and you engage ‘D’ (or ‘R’).
The interior exudes a sophisticated air of Scandi chic that sees a sparse, uncluttered cabin, although it is comfortable in a no-frills, no-nonsense manner.
The main concessions to vanity are the striking “Swedish Gold” seatbelts (which match the Brembo brake callipers and tyre valve-caps) and the Polestar motif embedded in the base of the gear-selector.
If you’ve spent a lot of time with the Teutonic Triumvirate (Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz), you’ll find that the Polestar 2’s user interface takes some learning. Like the decor, there’s no fuss or fanfare to the UX, so everything is simple and basic.
The Performance Pack is the tip of the spear that adds Öhlins suspension and Brembo four-pot brakes to the power-packed 2, which is intended to help enhance its dynamic performance.
The new model-year car sees the LRDM Performance Pack’s all-wheel drivetrain tuned for a decidedly rear-bias for greater driver involvement, so this is great for owners who want a dash of dynamism in their EVs.
It’ll easily rival most modern ICE exotics in terms of outright performance, especially from a standing start, which seems to be important to some folks keen on lording it over ICE.
Driven sedately, there’s no hint of the savage acceleration that lurks just a small flex of the driver’s right foot away, and it was satisfying to edge ahead of the rival cars to the destination by even a few minutes.
It may not have been a race, but there was still a clock to be watched, with just about 50km to be covered over the span of the drive (with 90 per cent charge, the range was easily at least 350km).
Of course, the drive was the easy part and one made all the more effortless by the waft-worthy Polestar 2, especially with the seats, which kept us well supported throughout the drive.
Even in spite of its sharply-cut silhouette, at over S$300+k, the Polestar 2 LRDM PP isn't a cheap proposition for transportation (although it won't bust the bank either) and who knows, you might even find the Swedish flair for simplicity and minimalism refreshing.
Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack
Electric Motor 82kWh, 400V
Power 476hp
Torque 740Nm
Transmission Single-speed
0-100km/h 4.2secs
Top Speed 205km/h
