[eGuru]

Yes but the C40 was cleaned up and looks smoother and more integrated.


Compared to competition the P2 while a beautiful design is inefficient and has poor aerodynamics. I sure hope they change the front grille to match the new C40. There is no reason to have a old fashioned slotted ICE grille on such a modern vehicle just to please traditionalists. If you look at the battery and drivetrain architecture the current grille does nothing for cooling. All new Polestars have a sleek front end without fake ICE grilles so naturally the P2 will follow suit.

C40 has solid upper grill vs P2 slotted upper grill but C40 has way bigger slotted lower grill. Unless we get active shutters, we need a grill for cooling of heat pump, etc.
Anyway, I don't see any data showing that the C40 is more aerodynamically efficient than P2.

 

[JRRF]

There is no reason to have a old fashioned slotted ICE grille on such a modern vehicle just to please traditionalists.

It's not to please traditionalists. If there is one thing Tesla has taught us, it's that a car has to look good and appealing. These bland front ends don't. For me, style is worth a few miles of range.

 

[bybyice]

View attachment 17021

Polestar 2 Facelift Spied For The First Time With Close To Zero Camo [UPDATE]

There’s some disguise covering the front fascia and we suppose Polestar will give the model a new grille design.

www.motor1.com

 

[GoingElectric]

It's not to please traditionalists. If there is one thing Tesla has taught us, it's that a car has to look good and appealing. These bland front ends don't. For me, style is worth a few miles of range.

I generally agree with you @JRRF about the styling. The only point I would make is that I have no issue with a well executed front end that has been designed from the outset without a prominent grill (think Polestar 5 or 6, or Porsche Taycan), but I’m really not a fan of the blanked off panels in place of a car that was originally designed with a grill. That seems like a cheap and ill considered fix.

I also don’t believe the Volvo EV style grill cover will be anymore efficient than the Polestar 2 grill cover. Both are vertical surfaces that don’t particularly facilitate airflow.

 

[nbvolks]

C40 has solid upper grill vs P2 slotted upper grill but C40 has way bigger slotted lower grill. Unless we get active shutters, we need a grill for cooling of heat pump, etc.
Anyway, I don't see any data showing that the C40 is more aerodynamically efficient than P2.

They have virtually the exact same lower grill space.

And the C40 (and XC40 Recharge) are mechanically the same as the PS2, so all the same cooling requirements. If anything, the XC40 may have a larger/thicker a/c condenser since it has a little more interior volume.

 

[nbvolks]

I'm also not a fan of the bland grills. All these EVs look the same. I know the aero is an issue, but the current grill is kind of unique and interesting.

Aesthetics are subjective, but I have to ask how something that looks like 95% of vehicles on the road (i.e.: all the ICE vehicles) is unique and interesting. It's the one blatant vestigial ICE cue.

 

[GoingElectric]

Aesthetics are subjective, but I have to ask how something that looks like 95% of vehicles on the road (i.e.: all the ICE vehicles) is unique and interesting. It's the one blatant vestigial ICE cue.

My response to that is, to my eyes the P*2 face is quite different to just about all other cars, ICE or EV. I think Polestar did a nice job with it. It’s quite distinct.

 

[nbvolks]

Yes but the C40 was cleaned up and looks smoother and more integrated.

So does the XC40. They basically redesigned it to match the C40 after the initial solid grill looked....well...less than fully thought out.

Original XC40 P8 grill:

Revised XC40 Recharge grill:

 

[eGuru]

They have virtually the exact same lower grill space.
View attachment 17022

And the C40 (and XC40 Recharge) are mechanically the same as the PS2, so all the same cooling requirements. If anything, the XC40 may have a larger/thicker a/c condenser since it has a little more interior volume.

It is hard to tell the exact grill area differences. This photo of the C40 seems to show a fairly tall lower grill with large openings.

 

[nbvolks]

It is hard to tell the exact grill area differences. This photo of the C40 seems to show a fairly tall lower grill with large openings.

I posted the C40 grill earlier. You can clearly see the similarly sized rectangular inlet. It otherwise has a stylized plastic inlet like the PS2. On both (and the XC40 Recharge), the lower rectangular inlet basically aligns with where the upper grill begins to curve upward on each side.

 

[JRRF]

but I have to ask how something that looks like 95% of vehicles on the road (i.e.: all the ICE vehicles) is unique and interesting. It's the one blatant vestigial ICE cue.

The only grill on the market that looks close to the P2 is a Maserati, minus the trident. That makes it pretty unique indeed and helps get the stares that it does.

 

[nbvolks]

The only grill on the market that looks close to the P2 is a Maserati, minus the trident. That makes it pretty unique indeed and helps get the stares that it does.

I mean....I guess that's true, if you never see another modern Volvo around. That's usually part of the question I get when asked "what is that?". When I answer it's a Polestar, more than half will respond, "I thought it was some kind of new Volvo".

 

[JRRF]

"I thought it was some kind of new Volvo".

The Thor headlights are what gives it away.

 

[JRRF]

A car's grill is it's grin/scowl. A car with a front like a TM3 looks like a puffer fish. The P2 has it's teeth clenched (which is somewhat menacing). Most cars with the blank grill look like they have their mouth closed and are without personality. Cars have been sold on style and personality association since the beginning. I don't think that's going away. For instance, it's hard to not see a late model Mazda with a real smiling grin -- not what you associate with a car that's ready to take on the world on the hard streets of the US. If you are selling Toyotas or Mazdas as transportation, a bland face might suffice. But if you are in the performance car arena (or even trying to advertise as such), that's not going to cut it with your target market.

 

[nbvolks]

The Thor headlights are what gives it away.

That's a big one, but the shape of the grill is a brand wide design aesthetic that neither the PS1 or PS2 did away with. It would be as if some EV offshoot from BMW started off with two defunct BMW concept cars and still retained a type of kidney grill.

 

[JRRF]

That's a big one, but the shape of the grill is a brand wide design aesthetic that neither the PS1 or PS2 did away with. It would be as if some EV offshoot from BMW started off with two defunct BMW concept cars and still retained a type of kidney grill.

Well, the kidney shaped grill (especially the new one) is completely distinct. The Volvo grill (aside from the logo) is not particularly distinct at all.

 

[nbvolks]

A car's grill is it's grin/scowl. A car with a front like a TM3 looks like a puffer fish. The P2 has it's teeth clenched (which is somewhat menacing). Most cars with the blank grill look like they have their mouth closed and are without personality. Cars have been sold on style and personality association since the beginning. I don't think that's going away. For instance, it's hard to not see a late model Mazda with a real smiling grin -- not what you associate with a car that's ready to take on the world on the hard streets of the US. If you are selling Toyotas or Mazdas as transportation, a bland face might suffice. But if you are in the performance car arena (or even trying to advertise as such), that's not going to cut it with your target market.

You don't need a grill to create a "smiling" car. The world's most produced vehicle is evidence of that.

Also, kids (and some adults) just see this when looking at the PS2. I've had more than a few say this at various events.

 

[JRRF]

Also, kids (and some adults) just see this when looking at the PS2. I've had more than a few say this at various events.

I could see this...after you blank out the grill.

Lots of people want their performance car to be menacing. You need teeth for that.

 

[Draegarth]

I saw this headline earlier and was at first a little disappointed, but having seen the pictures I'm less bothered than I was expecting.

If the big change is replace the current P*2 'square blocks' grill with a newer smoothed over one, I'm glad to be getting one with the original grill. I don't like the trend for totally smooth panels across the front which all look the same. It's something I don't like about Tesla's, and seems to be the trend with other EVs following suit, like the Nissan Ariya or Volvo C40 Recharge. It will be interesting to see if there are any other changes. One article mentions a new design of the dashboard on the passenger side - although I'm not convinced: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...ll-has-a-few-tricks-up-its-sleeve-197554.html

Edit: One thing I was curious about, is that a small LIDAR mounted central above the windscreen? Similar to what is going into the P*3?

 

[JRRF]

Without the checkered grill, where would you put the Performance Upgrade sticker?