Polestar 2

Make
Polestar
Segment
Sedan

Polestar is starting to ramp up its selection of sustainably sourced, luxury electric vehicles. It began with the sleek Polestar 1 coupe. Next came the oddly shaped Polestar 2 Launch Edition. Now the company is ready to open up the customization for the 2 with a base dual-motor version and single-motor version you can option however you like.

The Launch Edition came mostly preloaded. The only box to check was the $5,000 Performance Package, which added adjustable Ohlins dampers, enhanced Brembo brakes with low-drag calipers, forged 20-inch alloy wheels with sport tires, and signature 'Swedish gold' aesthetic details.

The new single-motor Polestar 2 will deliver an EPA range of approximately 260 miles with a 78-kWh battery pack. A few more miles will be added with the Plus Pack option, which we'll get to in a minute. Output is rated at 231 hp, up from the 204-hp motors on the dual-motor variants. That single motor is attached to the front wheels.

The new dual-motor Polestar 2 will essentially be the Launch Edition without any boxes checked. That means you can add whatever you want. It has a range of 240 miles - it can also go further with the Plus Pack - using a 204-hp electric motor at each axle.

The $59,900 Launch Edition is available now in the US and Canada, with a total of 408 hp and a sprint time of 4.45 seconds. The closest dealership to Detroit is New York, though, so plan ahead.

We don't have pricing yet for either of the two new trims, but Polestar says they will be "competitive" and announced in the coming weeks.

The Plus Pack adds a full-length panoramic glass roof, a Harman Karmon audio system with 13 speakers, WeaveTech vegan upholstery, heated front seats with a memory function and more, but it's the mechanical heat pump that we're most interested in.

"The new heat pump captures ambient heat and residual thermal energy from the drivetrain in order to reduce the climate draw on the battery by as much as 50%, says Polestar. "In colder climates this has a great impact on range, and at an exterior temperature of 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit the vehicle can gain as much as 10% more range."

That would mean up to 26 extra miles of range, putting the longer-range variant near 285 miles on a charge. Not bad. Polestar also notes that with over-the-air updates, it could find more range later.

The Pilot Pack is the box with all the safety options. It adds Pixel LED headlights with LED front fog lights, adaptive cruise control and Pilot Assist, a 360-degree surround view camera and parking sensors, blind spot warning with steering support, rear cross traffic alert with brake support and rear collision warning.

There are also a few specific options available including Nappa leather with ventilation (as opposed to the vegan covering), a few metallic paint options, 20-inch wheels and a trailer hitch.

Look for full pricing of the Polestar 2 lineup in the next few weeks.