Polestar engineers run an intense, 15 week cold weather testing cycle at the Arctic Circle, more than 66-degrees north, every year between December and March. The team spends those weeks pushing prototype Polestar cars to the limit in challenging conditions and temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius.
This year is no different – but the car is! Meet the Polestar 2 “Arctic Circle”, a one-off special version that brings winter rally inspiration to a Polestar for the first time.
Built on a Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor model with the optional Performance Pack, the rally-ready “Arctic Circle” rides on 3-way adjustable Öhlins shocks, 30 mm higher than stock on a set of lightweight OZ Racing rally wheels wrapped custom-made studded winter tires featuring 4 mm metal studs (490 per tire). To make the most of that winter gear, power has been boosted, and a new prototype launch control system has been integrated into steering wheel-mounted paddles.
Rally driver Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s chief chassis engineer, has led the dynamic development of Polestar vehicles for over a decade and advocates tuning in this environment. “Tuning a chassis on snow and ice allows us to develop our cars in what feels like slow motion and with better accuracy,” he explains. “With such low levels of grip, we can feel and analyze the dynamics at a much slower pace than on tarmac, which means we can really fine-tune the way our cars behave, down to the smallest details. This is my absolute favorite place to develop cars.”
Visually, this 2 absolutely looks the part of World Rally Championship contender, thank to four Stedi Quad Pro LED front lights, a unique exterior livery in matte grey and white, and custom-made Recaro front bucket sport seats with Swedish gold branding. The front bumper features a carbon fiber skid plate for additional under-body protection.
Polestar says the Polestar 2 Arctic Circle concept is destined to remain a one-off, but they said that about the hopped-up 2 they ran at Goodwood a while back, and you can buy most of those upgrades now as factory options – time will tell how serious they are, this time.
Polestar 2 Gallery
SOURCE | IMAGES: POLESTAR CARS.
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