Polestar 2 BST Edition 270
Tuned for handling performance and driving dynamics
Polestar Engineers have been let loose on the Swedish brand’s increasingly popular all-electric car. The powertrain is almost identical to the original version. Instead, the designers were let loose on developing the chassis for handling and driving dynamics.
What is the Polestar 2 BST Edition 270?
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath put a task to his team to see if they could make the Polestar 2 a faster car. Instead of simply ramming a bigger motor in for increased power, the engineers focussed on handling, braking, and tuning the setup of the car to make it more nimble and responsive.
‘The Beast’ was revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2020. A year later, the prototype became a development car and ran up the famous hill at Goodwood. But it took a little more time for the production version to be released. They are now out in the wild but under very limited numbers. Only 270 are being made. We were lucky enough to get our hands on one in Ireland.
What powers the Polestar 2 BST Edition 270?
The BST has a similar setup to the regular version of the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor. There is a motor for the back wheels and a separate motor for the front wheels. This gives a combined power output of 476hp, slightly up on the regular version of the car. The 0-100km/h time comes in at a very pacey 4.4 seconds, down a tenth of a second.
Being all-electric, the responsiveness of the BST is exceptionally fast and has to be experienced to get a full understanding of what this car can do. Launch control is included for those times you want to take off with the maximum impact.
What does the BST Edition 270 look like?
Our test car colour was ‘Snow’, a brilliant white that aptly reflects the cold Scandinavian conditions in which the Polestar brand was forged. The distinctive black stripe was added, making it truly stand out. It garnered a lot of attention, taking an extra few minutes to exit some car parks as we got questioned on what we were driving. That said, the stripe is not for everyone, and thankfully you don’t have to option it if you’re not seeking a car to say, ‘look at me!’
Black stripe excepted, the casual observer may be unable to tell that there is a special edition before them. One nice addition is the body-coloured trim around the wheel arches. What was a black plastic strip is now finished the same as the body? Coupled with the larger wheels, the BST takes a more poised and aggressive stance.
What wheels are on the BST Edition 270?
You could never accuse Polestar of under-speccing the wheels on the standard version. However, the upgrades for the BST are fully welcome. The BST is fitted with 21” Diamond Cut BST Alloys. They are forged, not cast. As a result, they are lighter and stronger than the standard version.
Pirelli P Zero tyres wrap the wheels, providing plenty of grip. The gloss black is nicely contrasted by the golden tint of the brake callipers and valve caps.
Let’s talk brakes!
In building out the BST Edition 270, Polestar worked with the famous Italian brake specialists, Brembo. They settled on 4-piston callipers finished in that golden hue reflected in the interior also. Ventilated discs allow the car to perform at a higher level for longer periods.
What about the suspension on the BST Edition 270?
The suspension is where the BST Edition 270 starts to impress. A lot of work was done to produce a more stable, precise and better-handling car. The regular Polestar handles very well; it’s nicely balanced and feels very poised in spirited driving. But the BST takes it to a new level.
Polestar worked with Öhlins, specialists in suspension systems. The result is a bespoke system that has custom-made springs and two-way adjustable front dampers for both compression and rebound. The ride height is 25mm lower at 121mm. As a result, the BST has a faster steering response, and better balance and finds its composure quicker after cornering or bumps in the road. You can adjust the front by simply opening the bonnet and twisting a valve without the need for any tools.
It is worth noting that the BST is not a particularly comfortable car in sedate day-to-driving that features a lot of ramps or on bumpy roads. This is not in any way a criticism, the car is set up for performance and handling, and it does that job exceptionally well. But it’s worth bearing in mind if you were thinking of nabbing yourself a BST. Of course, you can adjust the dampers for road use, then simply twist a valve to get back to the setup that you want.
The suspension is not the only means by which Polestar have enhanced the balance and stability of the car. They also included an aluminium strut bar that connects the front suspension mounts. It was designed to increase overall rigidity but also keep the car a bit more stable at high speeds.
How much range does the BST Edition 270 have?
Unfortunately, your answer here is ‘how long is a piece of string’? Typically, a Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor will get you about 380-420km real world range. However, the BST just begs to be driven a bit harder. It also has larger performance tyres and wheels that are not designed for aerodynamic performance. In test, in winter conditions, we were tracking for around 300km range. But this is most likely a worst case scenario.
Having said that, talk of range on the BST seems like something of a moot point. Why? Well, because this thing is built for fun driving. As long as you can belt around the Wicklow Mountains for a couple of hours, or get a few laps down in Mondello, the range doesn’t matter!
How much is the Polestar BST Edition 270?
The price jump from the Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor to the BST is surprisingly small. The BST comes with all the bells and whistles as standard. As a result, you don’t have to comb through the options list. You get the panoramic roof, Adaptive Cruise Control, interior upgrades and a whole lot more that comes with the Plus and Performance packs.
The price of the BST Edition 270 is €83,500. Our test car has the metallic paint and stripe which would cost an extra €1,070. This isn’t a far cry from the standard Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack, which starts off at €70,270, and can go past €80,000 once you get a few extras.
Like the sound of the BST Edition? Well, you better move quickly, because there will only be one available in Ireland! It is due in shortly, but may well be spoken for by the time you read this piece unfortunately!
Overall thoughts
The BST Edition 270 is something a bit special. Electric cars have largely shifted the focus to straight-line speed and 0-100km/h statistics. The BST may fill that gap left over as we remove the combustion engine from cars. That space vacated by the raw and visceral scream of a high-powered combustion engine needs something fresh and exciting. We need something that is particular, unique, and tailored to satisfy the passion of driving simply. Something like the BST goes a long way toward achieving that
