Volvo’s electric offshoot brand, Polestar, has arrived in Singapore and debuts Polestar 2 at very Tesla-competitive pricing. Prices start at S$214k with COE

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UPDATE: December 10, 2021: We’ve test driven the Polestar 2 in Singapore, read our review here!

SINGAPORE

Polestar, Volvo’s electric offshoot brand, has arrived in Singapore, and its official dealership partner here, Wearnes Automotive, kicked things off for the brand by launching the Polestar 2 at a media event on 8 December 2012.

CarBuyer was one of the first to break the news about Polestar’s arrival earlier this year, with dealer Wearnes Automotive ditching the Infiniti brand in the process.

The Polestar 2 is a fully electric fastback-style sedan that competes against the Tesla Model 3 in the market, although Polestar says that its offering is a ‘companion’ to Tesla’s best-selling car, as opposed to being competitors.

“Our aim is not to conquer Model 3 customers,” said Brent Ellis, Polestar’s PR and communications spokesperson, “Rather, we want to convince drivers of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars to make the switch to EVs, so in that sense Tesla and ourselves are ‘companions’ in trying to achieve this goal, albeit with different approaches.”

Three variants of the Polestar 2 will be offered for Singapore, with two long range models to be made available first. Indicative pricing starts at S$214,000 inclusive of COE for the Long Range Single Motor version, while the more powerful Long Range Dual Motor model, which has an electric motor at each axle for four-wheel-drive capability, goes for S$240,000 with COE. The latter also lets customers tack on an optional Performance Pack, which includes adjustable dampers and uprated brakes, for an additional S$16,000.

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The third model to join the lineup will be the Standard Range Single Motor version, which will have a smaller battery but nearly similar range as the Dual Motor model. That car will arrive in the first quarter of 2022, and expect it to retail for under S$200,000 with COE. The specs for all three versions are illustrated in the table below:

	Long Range Dual Motor	Long Range Single Motor	Standard Range Single Motor
Power	300kW (408hp)	170kW (228hp)	170kW (228hp)
Torque	660Nm	330Nm	330Nm
Battery Capacity	78kWh	78kWh	69kWh
Charging	Up to 155kW DC 35 min 10-80%	Up to 155kW DC 35 min 10-80%	Up to 130kW DC 35 min 10-80%
Range	‘Up to’ 480km	‘Up to’ 570km	‘Up to’ 470km
Consumption	19.4-20.2 kWh/100 km	17.1-18.6 kWh/100 km	16.7-17.9 kWh/100 km
0-100km/h	4.7 seconds	7.4 seconds	7.4 seconds
Top Speed	205km/h	160km/h	160km/h
Price (with COE)	S$240,000	S$214,000	TBA

It’s accurate to say that Polestar’s pricing is very competitive with Tesla’s.

Tesla’s Model 3 is offered here with the Standard Range Plus at S$113,245 without COE. With a current Cat B COE at S$80,401, it would cost S$193,646. It does 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, has a top speed of 225km/h and quoted NEDC range of nearly 450km (though that’s optimistic).

There’s also the Model 3 Performance at S$155,283 without COE, or S$235,684 with COE. It does 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds, with a 255km/h top speed, and quoted (NEDC) range in excess of 500km. Compare that to the S$240k of the top-tier Polestar 2.


While Polestar sees itself as a ‘companion’ in the EV game, it differentiates itself from the competition with its unique approach to design, technology and sustainability. For instance, the interior of the Polestar 2 has an ‘entirely vegan’ interior, with no animal products used in its production. The textiles uses a material called WeaveTech, which is lighter than leather, and makes uses of recycled materials to produce a material that’s durable and easy to clean.

Technology is also at the forefront of the Polestar experience, with the car’s infotainment powered by Google’s Android Automotive OS, as seen in recent newer Volvo models, allowing users to sync up their Google preferences with the car. The car also allows for over-the-air updates, with Polestar promising to release regular upgrades not just to the car’s software, but also improvements to the car’s range and performance.

Other tech highlights include the Polestar App, which incorporates the Polestar Digital Key, which lets users lock and unlock their car, as well as access information like the car’s battery and charging status through their smartphones.

The usual safety systems inherited from Volvo is also present here, and the car is available with a Pilot Pack package that incorporates adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and collision warning and braking assistance system, among others. The Pilot Pack is standard on the Dual Motor variant, and available as an option on the other models.

The Polestar 2 is built upon Volvo’s CMA platform, which also underpins the likes of XC40 crossover, and the family links are clearly evident in its design. The design of the lights especially are clearly Volvo-derived, with the front LED headlights even incorporating the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ element seen on other Volvo models. The rear lights meanwhile feature a central light bar that connects the two rear lights, and is made up of 288 LEDs for maximum visibility.

The car’s length of 4,606mm puts it in the compact executive sedan class, along the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. It features a fairly long wheelbase of 2,735mm, giving the Polestar 2 ample legroom for passengers. It also measures in at 1,479mm tall, although the height drops 6mm if the Performance Pack is fitted thanks to the lowered suspension.

Standard features on the Polestar 2 include the 11.15-inch touchscreen infotainment display that incorporates the aforementioned Android Automotive OS system, a wireless smartphone charger, a 13-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and 19-inch wheels.

Polestar will also offer a S$12,000 Performance Pack option for buyers of the Dual Motor model, and the pack includes a set of Öhlins dual flow valve (DFV) adjustable dampers, Brembo four-pot brakes, and 20-inch tyres with forged aluminium wheels.

Polestar’s arrival here marks another major step forward for Singapore EV movement, with the brand committing to a fully electric lineup for its future products. The brand’s official local dealer Wearnes Automotive has already received a strong response from local customers, having reportedly collected some 50 deposits for the car already, with deliveries set to start by the end of this month.

Wearnes will also open its Polestar Destination Space showroom at 45 Leng Kee Road in early 2022, while servicing will be supported by the dealership’s Volvo operations across the road.

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