Polestar has updated its number 3 SUV for the next model year. Sales will begin in the UK later this year, with the other markets set to follow soon.
Importantly, the crossover now has 800V power internals instead of 400V. This enables it to charge faster from sources rated up to 350 kW, going from 10 to 80% full in 22 minutes. That’s about 25% faster than before.
The old 111-kWh battery pack has been dropped, so there are two new options to choose from. Both are manufactured by CATL in China. The 92-kWh pack comes standard with all RWD variants and the bigger 106-kWh array accompanies the AWD versions. Disappointingly enough, ranges now vary from 593 to just 604 kilometers (368–375 miles). The entry-level spec has lost 102 km (64 miles) of driving range from the refresh, and the Performance spec is the only one that’s gained a tiny bit. Polestar claims a 6% increase in power efficiency, partly thanks to the option to disengage the front motor when cruising, but it’s apparently not enough to compensate for the range loss.
The upside is that the entire Polestar 3 lineup packs much more performance than before. The base RWD version now enjoys 333 PS (328 hp / 245 kW) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque, sprinting to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.5 seconds and maxing out at 210 km/h (130 mph).
Paying for AWD gives you two motors, 544 PS (536 hp / 400 kW) and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque. If that’s not enough, an extreme spec exists with 680 PS (671 hp / 500 kW) and 870 Nm (642 lb-ft) under its command. That’s 163 PS (161 hp / 120 kW) more than before the facelift. As a result, the car needs 3.9 seconds for the sprint instead of the former 4.7.
Major improvements have been made in the on-board computer department. It now runs on Nvidia Drive AGX Orin hardware and has 254 TOPS of processing power instead of 30. Interestingly, Polestar claims it will offer Nvidia retrofits for existing cars as well.
Customers can choose from a wider range of available interior trims, and changes were made to the entire trim lineup. Active air suspension remains optional, but you can now order it with a mid-range spec – no need to go for the flagship.
