First launched under Volvo’s motor racing division, Polestar broke away in 2017, establishing itself as a premium electric performance brand. With a bold vision of a “post-petrol era”, the Swedish company debuted its fully electric Polestar 2 in 2019 as a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3. Since arriving in Aotearoa in late 2021, Polestar has been quietly gaining pace in the local electric vehicle (EV) market.
Beauty, simplicity and functionality, all hallmarks of Scandinavian design, are evident in every aspect of the Polestar 2. With clean lines with a slight avant-garde profile, the electric car toes the line between bold and understated, with slick features such as frameless mirrors, touch-operated door handles and origami-inspired headlights.
Inside, the Polestar 2 has done away with unnecessary clutter, forgoing flashiness for a spacious, minimalist design. A geometric embossed pattern runs through the interiors, while staying true to the brand’s sustainable ethos with its signature vegan WeaveTech upholstery.
The Polestar 2 is the first car in the world to feature Google built in, bringing all performance, comfort and entertainment features together in a large, user-friendly interface. Interestingly, there is no start button, instead using smart seat sensors to turn the car on, and the High Performance Audio system delivers rich sound all throughout the cabin. When it comes to performance, the Polestar 2 does well with a range up to 551 kilometres. The battery itself is designed to improve handling, lowering the centre of gravity for a smooth, controlled driving experience with impressive responsiveness.
Polestar has made sustainability a core part of its brand, with an ambitious goal to make a ‘climate neutral’ car by 2030 by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from its supply chain and manufacturing processes. It also incorporates circularity in its design and publishes the Polestar 2’s lifetime carbon footprint online.
“We have revisited materials and processes that go into making Polestar 2, introducing updates that reduce the climate impact and increase material traceability of this award-winning car,” says Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. “These are important additions to how we can improve cars over their lifetime. Not just with functionality and design updates, but addressing sustainability and carbon footprint as well.”
Deadly Ponies’ founder, Liam Bowden drives the Polestar 2
Liam Bowden, founder of leather accessories brand Deadly Ponies and a Polestar Brand Partner, has been driving the Polestar 2 for the past year. He shares his experience with STYLE.
What initially drew you to consider the Polestar brand?
Polestar’s commitment to sustainability and innovation is what first drew me to the brand. I liked the fact that they were pure electric vehicles, and felt that their sustainability values aligned perfectly with our own. The way that Polestar operates is super innovative, even down to the materials they use – prioritising circularity, repurposing and recycling.
What are some of your favourite features?
Of course, my favourite feature of the car is the fact it is fully electric and I can charge it at home, or wherever I go. I also love the voice-activated digital console which means I can request directions or play music while I am driving, and the heated seats and steering wheel are a dream in the winter.
How would you describe the overall driving experience?
I have always driven relatively small cars so the Polestar has been quite a different driving experience for me, but a great one. I do a lot of driving to the Coromandel and this car really hugs the road – it feels very smooth and safe.
How do the Polestar values align with Deadly Ponies’ values?
For me, a lot of EVs to date have lacked that x-factor, so I love the super modern design as well as the functionality behind it. The brand strongly encourages female leadership, and has a big push for sustainability, interweaving it into everything they do and collaborating with other forward-thinking businesses, just as we aim to do.
