Last summer, Polestar confirmed plans for a new, high-tech version of its currently only Polestar 2 vehicle. Based on the 2WD 2-wheel drive and optional Performance Pack, each “BST Edition 270″ adds Öhlins adjustable shocks with remote reservoirs for the front shocks, as well as lower and stiffer springs for a 25mm lower ride height.
Polestar plans to produce just 270 examples of the car – hence the digital nomenclature, which also applies to the one-off Experimental Version 2 serving as the climbing specialist at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed. But these tweaks could hint at Polestar’s future performance offerings.
As the company was spun off from Volvo’s front tuning division, many were curious to see how cool the new 2 would be. As it makes its way through the ridges and canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains south of the San Francisco Bay Area at a media event hosted by Polestar this month, I had the opportunity to test it.
With fog blowing in from the Pacific Ocean and rain starting to pour down on the redwoods, the conditions were a near-perfect scenario to explore the performance of a Swedish electric car, with some Scandinavian rally-inspired improvements.
When it was first announced it looked like the BST would be the pinnacle of the 2 Series, with more power missing for lower spec models, but since then the Performance Pack has also received powertrain optimizations to match the claimed 476bhp. and 502 pounds. feet of torque BST delivered now. High-performance electric vehicles typically develop Thor’s hammer torque for lightning-fast straight-line speeds, but they are often heavier and less agile than traditional high-performance vehicles when the road curves. BST 270 is not like that.
Suspension modifications include adjustable Öhlins shocks with 22 clicks of stiffest to softest damping, adjustable lowering coil springs and strut mounts hidden under a plastic trunk liner. A set of 21-inch staggered eight-inch front and nine-inch rear wheels similar to those on the original Polestar 1 are shod in 245mm Pirelli P-Zero tires that replaced the Performance Pack’s Continental SportContact rubber.
Even on Skyline Boulevard’s slippery bumps that often give way to bumps and bumps, the more grippy Pirellis provides enough traction to unleash BST’s awesome low-end torque.
Those road imperfections also extend to the 2′s skateboard-style battery layout, far more so than the soft finish, but Polestar reps have set the Öhlins to a seventh hard setting, which offers a whole new level of confidence when pushing the 4650-pound EV. in the corners.. Recall that this car weighs almost twice as much as the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Polestar also offers a choice between three levels of steering assistance, three levels of regenerative braking and a sport mode that improves throttle response when electronic stability control is turned off. Especially for the expanding market for electric vehicles, the ability to fine-tune driving dynamics becomes even more important now that even the Chevrolet Bolt is rapidly failing.
The BST offers handling that few other electric vehicles can match. Hard braking with the four-piston Brembo brakes results in just enough suspension compression to allow almost instantaneous cornering, although opting for a standard steering setting over a stiff one actually gives it a more aggressive driving feel.
Lifting the brake pedal and using the accelerator regen provides excellent weight transfer, although this is undeniable after some tuning time. Even with ESC off in sport mode, Polestar purposefully programs the twin engines to deliver more power to the rear wheels before the front wheels engage, bringing the BST out of the corners in classic rally car style.
Even without setting the Öhlins to the softest setting, the all-electric BST can still definitely serve as a spirited commuter for city dwellers who can enjoy morning canyon carving from time to time.
The electric car market will no doubt continue to grow from now until when the upcoming Models 3, 4, 5 and 6 actually arrive – two crossovers, a majestic sedan and a roadster respectively. An average range of 247 mid-range miles will also be a factor in consumer decisions before future models promise longer range and more advanced features.
Meanwhile, BST is more of a project aimed at proving that electric vehicles can be fun. It’s an important message given the company’s “clean play” ethos (an investment pun meant to serve as a guiding light for the company), but it also recognizes competition from cars like the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
The Polestar’s gorgeous interior design never disappoints, but adding some sporty elements for fun can be a welcome addition to the package: a flat-bottomed steering wheel, for example, and not just gold Öhlins harnesses and thigh-high seats. The Performance package also provides support.
The question of how many buyers will choose the external graphics package remains open. While the racing stripes are used to highlight the BST and emphasize the rarity factor, the bold styling belies Polestar’s modern minimalist lines. Does the rarity really offer enough appeal to offset the $75,500 entry-level electric car price spike or even premium electric cars? The answer is yes, as all 47 BSTs destined for the US have already been sold.
At this price point, the BST costs just $7,000 less than a base Porsche Taycan and about the same as the top-end BMW i4 M50, which has 536 horsepower and slightly more range.
However, the attractive design looks even better on big wheels and low profile tires. Compared to the Performance Package, the BST rides slightly softer on rough roads with noticeably more body roll, while the BST only sacrifices minimal comfort to offer more traction-limit capability. It’s like the tuned car that Polestar once built for Volvo, only electric.
Just as importantly, it’s the opposite of the basic single-engine trucker, which often feels like the chassis is overwhelmed by the massive single-engine torque sent to the front wheels only. The upgrade significantly improves the drive.
As a counterweight to these two, Tesla is making a single-engine, rear-wheel-drive Model 3 that eschews any torque steer in the name of near-excessive tail-slip – probably the funniest car in the lineup, and about half the BST. But the Model 3 never keeps up with the winding road Polestar takes to showcase the capabilities of its latest product.
The BST Panoramic Roof is also a surprise – considering the premium, perhaps, but the smoother roof will likely save more weight. However, under the guise of a BST, the Polestar managed to hide the weight of the 2 well, which was a major step forward in chassis tuning. If Polestar can build an electric car as fun as the BST based on the cheapest offer, imagine how well the Precept and 02 Roadster concepts would work as final production vehicles.
Currently, BST sits at the top of the Polestar lineup as the rare rally or hillclimb specialist for die-hard EV buyers who want more fun from their commuter car.
Polestar provides lodging and transportation, let Forbes Wheels bring you this first person driving report. While Forbes Wheels occasionally attends manufacturer events, our reports are independent, unbiased and designed to give consumers an unbiased view of every vehicle we test.
Post time: Dec-12-2022
