Experimental Polestar 2 concept debuts at 2021 Goodwood FoS

KUALA LUMPUR: Three years after showcasing its first car at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Polestar made a comeback to the event this year with an "experimental'' Polestar 2 concept. Inspired by the company’s CEO Thomas Ingenlath’s desire, the standard EV has given a makeover for the speed festival that pushes the boundaries of electric performance and potential. 

To make this happen, Ingenlath challenged his design and engineering teams “to play with Polestar 2 and come up with something that makes a strong statement for Goodwood,” And, to do so, the teams come up with the following:

• The upgraded car equips a long-range dual motor now producing a combined output of 476 hp (68 hp more) from its twin electric motors
• It gets a stronger stance, with a wider track (+10 mm on both sides) and 30 mm lower ride height 
• The wheel arches are widened to house the 9x21-inch wheels and 6-piston Akebono front brakes
• The car also gets 275/30R21 Pirelli PZero Rosso performance tyres 

For the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the suspension setup of the upgraded Polestar 2 also went through a makeover. The front springs get stiff by 80% and the rear ones by 40%. The adjustable Öhlins DFV dampers are replaced by Öhlins three-way performance dampers that are 30% stiffer than the original units. For more rigidity, the carbon fibre front suspension strut bar is also added to the kit.

“This car is what happens when we are given freedom to go beyond our limits,” says Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s chief chassis engineer. “We already have such great handling and performance characteristics in Polestar 2, but when Thomas asked me to make something special for Goodwood, I was really excited to up the stakes.”

Besides the mechanical upgrades, the Polestar 2 also gets some cosmetic tweaks for the event. These include revamped front and rear bumpers, glossy black mirrors, dual-tone glossy black wheels, colour-coded accents on the front grid, bumpers, and side skirts. The car is decked up in a Snow Matte exterior paint featuring a Magnesium Matte racing strip.

During the event, the experimental Polestar 2 will complete the famous Goodwood Hillclimb run while showcasing its improved handling, This time also, the car will be piloted by the brand’s lead chassis engineer, Joakim Rydholm.

Also read: Polestar 3 performance SUV teased, debut in 2022