looks like crap. Put it on and immediately regretted it. My partner came to tell me that someone stuck a white post it note on the front of my car and now I can’t unsee it.
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Performance upgrade sticker looks like complete $#!+
Lyricmykle
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What’s the difference between the new and old under the hood sticker?
(Also it’s a federal requirement not a California one as far as I know. )
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There’s nothing at the spot where the sticker goes. I guess there’s no old under the hood stickers in the launch edition cars.
Lemon'd '22 P*2 LRDM | Midnight | Barley | Plus | Pilot | Performance + Performance Software Upgrade
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Many thanks! The link works!
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Interesting
I think the sticker has that Swedish, minimalists look. Love it.
Although not sure who the sticker is for? Others that see it, as you whir past them (in silence), won’t even know what car that is, let alone what the sticker means. And for yourself, or family members that know what the sticker represents….well, I’m sure they already know you have the performance software.
Unlike BMW’s or Mercedes “performance badges”, few, if any (outside ot the Polestar community), will appreciate what the Polestar badge symbolizes.
So, if you like the looks, put it on…but if you don’t, then don’t install…and nobody will be the wiser that you’re running 476 HP. 🤔
Although not sure who the sticker is for? Others that see it, as you whir past them (in silence), won’t even know what car that is, let alone what the sticker means. And for yourself, or family members that know what the sticker represents….well, I’m sure they already know you have the performance software.
Unlike BMW’s or Mercedes “performance badges”, few, if any (outside ot the Polestar community), will appreciate what the Polestar badge symbolizes.
So, if you like the looks, put it on…but if you don’t, then don’t install…and nobody will be the wiser that you’re running 476 HP. 🤔
I think you overestimate how many people know what M or AMG are - they mean something in the car community (and potentially to others just interested in getting whatever the "best" model of something is) but not really to anyone else. And hell, the Polestar Engineered badge is more obvious than the red line under Tesla's "dual motor" lettering for the Model 3 Performance.
"Performance badges" in general are only really known to people who know something about the brand. BMW and Mercedes are much more well known brands and their performance models have a much longer history, so of course more people are going to know about them. But the point isn't to show off to random people on the street - the likelihood a rando knows what any performance badge means is incredibly low. The point is to show off to people who already know what it means or to start a conversation about it.
Underhood sticker is absolutely a California only requirement. CARB passed a regulation in mid 2021 relating to "illegal software modifications" that the Polestar would trigger if not for them going through the process with California. I'm not sure why it's only the 2021 they needed to submit for, but it could be the original 2022 testing included the potential software upgrade for the increased horsepower. I didn't bother digging into it enough.
Here is the directive that the sticker references. They got approval in October.
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Not really worth arguing but it is an EPA sticker which is federal not CA.
Locating the Vehicle Emissions Label | US EPA
The images on this page show how to locate the vehicle emissions label used for model year vehicles produced before and after 2007.
www.epa.gov
Your document just says they had to get CA approval for the change, nothing about a sticker. That’s true for all cars sold/modified in CA as it is unique in that can create more stringent rules than the EPA. I believe other states can adopt CAs rules more stringent rules (and some do) but they can’t make there own.
I too don’t understand why newer models didn’t need to get approval nor why the 2021s did not have the EPA sticker. Must have been manufacturer EPA loophole in the original filings. Perhaps the EPA rules for the sticker changed for electric cars between now and then?
Added: One thing related that changed in 2022 was CAs zero emission requirements (ZEV program)/Advanced Clean Car II ( Advanced Clean Cars II | California Air Resources Board ) and it’s possible that as part of those related requirements it was unnecessary to ask for permission for the 2022+ cars that are and continue to be zero emission. But I still don’t understand why the 2021 did not have a sticker as I think all imports needed it.
The sticker literally only references this CARB EO number and nothing about the EPA. I have to assume you are intentionally being a knucklehead at this point.Not really worth arguing but it is an EPA sticker which is federal not CA.
Locating the Vehicle Emissions Label | US EPA
The images on this page show how to locate the vehicle emissions label used for model year vehicles produced before and after 2007.
Your document just says they had to get CA approval for the change, nothing about a sticker. That’s true for all cars sold/modified in CA as it is unique in that can create more stringent rules than the EPA. I believe other states can adopt CAs rules more stringent rules (and some do) but they can’t make there own.
I too don’t understand why newer models didn’t need to get approval nor why the 2021s did not have the EPA sticker. Must have been manufacturer EPA loophole in the original filings. Perhaps the EPA rules for the sticker changed for electric cars between now and then?
Added: One thing related that changed in 2022 was CAs zero emission requirements (ZEV program)/Advanced Clean Car II ( Advanced Clean Cars II | California Air Resources Board ) and it’s possible that as part of those related requirements it was unnecessary to ask for permission for the 2022+ cars that are and continue to be zero emission. But I still don’t understand why the 2021 did not have a sticker as I think all imports needed it.
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More interesting, it says “performance” on the sticker but I do not have the performance pack if that mattered.
It's not replacing that sticker. It's supplementary. It's not even close to the same location on the hood if you look at the image I posted of their instructions.Well that’s really odd. This is the sticker in the 2023 and conforms to the EPA one.
![Image]()
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Got it, thanks. I definitely don’t have that or any sticker on under my hood on my 2023.
Something in their 2021s appear paperwork filing was likely different. I obviously thought it was the standard EPA emissions sticker that was updated.
I knew about the CA law about changing software related to emissions and they actually can check the ECM software on any cars when you get smogged (and I’ve read started doing so to make sure it’s checksummed correctly.) Not sure how they would enforce that on an EV.
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Looks like EPA sticker is identical on the 2021s and 23s from the photos above. I had incorrectly assumed they were different.
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Polestar Performance AB is the name of the legal entity. An AB (Aktiebolag) is a limited company or corporation, can be both private or public. Nothing to do with the performance pack
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I put the sticker on under the hood even though I'm not in California - it's under the hood and doesn't bother me. I'll skip the other stickers as I like the anonymity of the car and don't particularly like the grille badge. Resolution aside (I agree it's not noticeable unless you get up way too close!), I would rather it be white on black. It's too jarring of a contrast for me.
Yes, but M and AMG are notices of performance enhancements by another firm or subsidiary (similar to Polestar Engineered on Volvos) and auto enthusiasts know that. Polestar Engineered on a Polestar means nothing if you are not an owner; it's just a name tag, but maybe the intent was to make the name of the car more visible. As an owner, I know what it means but the sticker itself looks like a cheap version of the Volvo sticker. No effort to make it distinctive or classy.
Yeah, I know this is old…and should let the thread die…but today was the first nice, warm day in my area in quite some time, so decided to remove the two Polestar 2 door stickers. At first I was going to replace them with the upgrade, 350 kW performance stickers? But after removing the old stickers, i decided i wouldn;’t put anything in their place. Looks better and cleaner, IMO. But did add the “Polestar Engineered“ badge at the front, which I decided was low profile enough and didn’t distract from the front look, that I’ll give that a try and see how I like it? Right now, I’m happy with the looks.
Oh, and for anybody that hasn’t yet removed the door sticker, but wants to….super easy. Just use a hair drier (just keep the heat on one of the sticker edges until the door metal in the area is warm to the touch…then use your finger nail to pull up one edge/corner of the sticker. Continue heating the sticker and slowly peel the sticker back and then off. Clean up any residue with simple paint thinner (yes, paint thinner), and then dry and buff the area with a coat of car wax.
Oh, and for anybody that hasn’t yet removed the door sticker, but wants to….super easy. Just use a hair drier (just keep the heat on one of the sticker edges until the door metal in the area is warm to the touch…then use your finger nail to pull up one edge/corner of the sticker. Continue heating the sticker and slowly peel the sticker back and then off. Clean up any residue with simple paint thinner (yes, paint thinner), and then dry and buff the area with a coat of car wax.
Agreed. Time to let it go.
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