[nbvolks]

I'm questioning the power numbers for both the std. LRDM and the Performance Pack equipped one. Both have fairly dramatic increases in torque, but no change in HP, and no change, or actually slower for the std LRDM, 0-60 times?!

 

[nbvolks]

Hm.... will there be an option to add that 4kwh battery to the existing models?

As an OTA update in 'the spring'. 😝

 

[nbvolks]

MY24? That’s not exactly around the corner 😉

I’m glad to see Polestar incrementally improving the car each year.

It actually is right around the corner.

Polestar, like Volvo, ends model year production at the end of April, then retools/retrains, and starts up the new model year sometime in May. It then begins production based on regional allocation, and has typically prioritized Europe, then North America, then other regions. Europeans will start taking deliveries of MY24 cars as early as mid-late summer. North America by late summer-early autumn. Production then varies later in the year depending on demand, until the cycle starts all over again.

But it's about this time of year that production allocations for the current model year end.

 

[nbvolks]

My wife's LRDM is going back in April and I have a LRSM on order for June / delivery to replace it. Should I be cancelling my order and reordering, its £10 per month difference on my lease. Does RWD make a big difference to FWD?

I would if you're able to.

 

[nbvolks]

I'll be honest, I like the new grill more, and had secretly hoped they would make this change. I'll almost certainly swap out the grill on mine for this style. I realize not all will agree with that view.

As far as the battery size, charging speed, and pixel headlights differential between NA and Europe....

I just don't get it. That seems backward to me. The US doesn't yet have the ability to take advantage of the pixel headlights, yet Europe does. And range is the absolute pinnacle of discussion around EVs in the US because of driving distances in certain parts of the country, so the US (and Polestar sales) would benefit immensely more from the added range. Faster charging speeds are good for everyone, but I realize that's tied to the newer battery's chemistry.

 

[nbvolks]

I also love the new face. I wonder whether it will be relatively easy to upgrade to it... looks like maybe some other subtle changes were made to that shape of that area that may make it difficult.

If it's like the XC40, which I assume it is, then it's a direct bolt in swap. The XC40 actually went through two different EV versions of their grill.

The whole idea behind mid-cycle refreshes like this is that you minimize changes while creating maximum visual impact. From a cost perspective that means manufacturers take this approach:

1. Never change the unibody fender, bumper, etc. mounting points
2. Maybe change sheetmetal like the fenders and hood, but only if larger volume selling car.
3. Plastic components are the cheapest and easiest to 'refresh' because those molds are far cheaper than making changes to metal dies.
4. If it's low production, like the Polestar 2, you really keep things to a minimum to save on costs, so even the bumpers stay the same, but you swap out smaller plastic bits. In the past this has been the chrome bits, or now, revising the grill. (the bumper is still the same) The only different bumper is the MY21 that incorporated the headlight washers. But deleting a cutout is easier than a complete mold redesign.

So, I would suspect that the grill will be a direct swap, and the radar and camera will use the same connectors as MY23 and older, again, simply to save on cost and parts inventory.

 

[nbvolks]

That would be great and I am sure curious minds will try to confirm soon.

I can already see a swapp meet going on

That's actually a great point! There might be ready made market for trades/swaps of grills. Mine is a lease, so I would hold onto mine to swap back just before trade in, but I think among owner/buyers that would be an excellent option.

 

[nbvolks]

Yeah, i guess that also allows them to make the same "lesser" 2024 NA spec and world spec on the same line fairly easily. I'm hoping they're just trying to work through some parts inventory or something and we'll get the battery and charging upgrade in MY25.

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a battery production/supplier consideration. They probably couldn't produce enough of the new batteries (or of either individual battery) to supply all markets and their expected growth. So they just made the call that this arrangement would meet their expected production needs.

We also have to keep in mind that they're very shortly going to ramp up battery production for the Polestar 3, so there's a fair amount on their plate in terms of balancing production capacities.

 

[nbvolks]

One thing that is sort of funny, is that the online configurator is just photoshopping in the new grill and wheels. With the grill they didn't quite spend enough time color matching and it shows.

 

[nbvolks]

So, while I very much like and prefer the new grill, I very much do not prefer the new Performance Pack wheels. I get that they sort of had to freshen those up, but I think the original design was really stunning. The newer design just doesn't stand out as much to me and is actually doing more to hide those Brembos!

 

[nbvolks]

You didn’t think it was an actual photo I hope?

Huh? Not at all. I'm stating that they photoshopped in the new elements (this is common across the industry).

 

[nbvolks]

I guess they did not go for the Polestar 3 camera cleaning spray nozzle?

I wish! On my list of redesign requests would be:

1. A rear camera washer! The rear camera becomes completely useless under anything but perfectly dry, clean and clear roads.
2. A front washer to clear not only the camera, but also assist in keeping the radar clear during icy precipitation, which the heater can't entirely keep up with.
3. A tiny spoiler/roof extension at the top of the rear hatch, which hides a wiper!

 

[nbvolks]

Also appears that Midnight cars, the lone holdouts that still had the chrome strip along the lower part of the grill, will have that chrome strip no more. Does that mean that the MY24 completes Polestar's goal of removing all chromed plastic pieces?

 

[nbvolks]

I have seen multiple posts here about the US not getting all the updates. Is that because the Polestar USA website hasn't been updated or because someone has gotten info from a dealer saying what we are getting and not getting?

Or did I just miss an official press release saying we are not?

I was told my my local dealer that they are getting more info this afternoon. So if I hear anything different I will post it here.

It's the first note within the official press release. (a local dealer should have read this by now!)

Polestar 2 brings more power, performance and range

Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) is giving the 5-door electric performance fastback, Polestar 2, a major update. For the 2024 model year, the premium compact EV features a new high-tech front end that reflects the design language premiered by Polestar 3, substantial performance increases with all-new...

media.polestar.com

 

[nbvolks]

Thanks. Wonder why they wouldn't bring the 82kw pack battery to the US for dual motor cars.. seems weird

I said it elsewhere, but it's almost certainly a battery production capacity consideration. That will probably change in the future, but my guess is that for now, they're maxing out their CATL supplier.

 

[nbvolks]

Wouldn't it make sense to give the top model a battery pack and save the lower CATL pack for the Single Motor? Now the lower trim gets the best battery...such a weird decision.

"Best battery" seems debatable when the newer revised CATL battery now has a faster charging speed. Also, even if the LG pouch battery is better, that doesn't amount to much if they can't deliver enough of them, and can't deliver enough to offer an additional 4kWh of capacity. Then, not for nothing, Polestar is touting that as netting them a lower overall carbon emissions coming from the production of these newer battery packs.

 

[nbvolks]

I suspect same extra battery capacity is already lurking in the DM pack for emergency range, aging, and performance software. I can’t really imagine why they’d want to deal with two different packs so similar during the chassis level of build.

They're different batteries from different manufacturers. Polestar has essentially swapped their battery suppliers. CATL will now produce the bigger battery packs, and LG Chem, who previously made the large battery packs, will make the battery pack from the SRSM.

 

[nbvolks]

Well the 82kwh packs have 205kw charging, it says the CATL pack (78kwh) will still have 155kw charging.
So faster speed and +5% larger capacity, seems like the better one to me.

I think you may have misread that. The new 82kWh, with 205kw charging, packs are manufactured by CATL. The previous 78kWh, 155kw charging, packs were manufactured by LG Chem.

 

[nbvolks]

The smaller battery has slower charging though :/

Correct....because those are now manufactured by LG Chem, and were previously manufactured by CATL.

Like I said, Polestar swapped which supplier was making which battery size, and up'd the overall capacity of the larger pack.

 

[nbvolks]

That reads to me like both SM & DM (long range) models have the same battery pack. Maybe I’m missing something, with all the excitement.

That's correct. Prior to MY24, LG Chem made all of the 78kWh (LR) batteries. CATL made the standard range (SR) battery (which was never an option in the US). Now that has flipped. CATL makes all of the 82kWh (LR) batteries, and LG Chem will make the SR battery.

Except for the US....which gets shafted by continuing to get the LG Chem built 78kWh LR pack on the DM cars. Seems pretty clear that for the US, Polestar is targeting LRSM buyers, and to differentiate it more from the LRDM that will be sold here.