18 minute read
Motoring
Dual motor . . . Quicker but not necessarily as practical. POLESTAR 2 LONG RANGE (DUAL MOTOR)
By CHRIS RILEY
What are the chances of seeing two Polestars on the road at the same time? Not great, or so we thought, but upon entering the motorway we fell in behind another Polestar 2 on our way into Sydney.
That’s signifcant because a brand has to achieve a certain number of sales before a car achieves visibility on the roads of a city.
The Chinese-owned, Swedish Polestar is an offshoot of Volvo and has been positioned as a standalone, electric range of performance vehicles.
Polestar 2 is the frst and only model to be sold here so far and here we have the recently updated, top of the range dual motor model.
STYLING
Apart from new wheels and colours and more environmentally friendly production techniques, there’s the addition of a much-needed screen for the panoramic sunroof to keep the summer sun out.
Prices start from $63,900 for the standard range single motor.
Long range single motor is priced from $68,400. The top-drawer long range, dual motor model, with all-wheel drive -- is priced from $73,400 (all before onroads).
Metallic paint is standard and all models start with the same basic equipment, with some minor upgrades for the current model.
Standard stuff includes embossed, textured leather upholstery and two-zone climate air conditioning.
Driver and front passenger seats are heated and partly power adjustable, with four-way power lumbar adjustment for the driver -- but the seat backs must be adjusted manually.
There’s also 19-inch alloys, LED headlights with active beam, adaptive rear LED lights, retractable frameless mirrors, auto lights and wipers, autodimming rear view mirror, front and rear park sensors and a foot-operated tailgate.
Few buyers are likely to take the car the way it comes from the manufacturer, with a range option packs available that build on the basics.
Like the single motor Polestar 2 that we drove a few weeks ago, our current test vehicle had been ftted with the $3400 Pilot Lite pack, $6000 Plus pack and $6000 ventilated
Nappa leather (ethically sourced of course).
Pilot Lite Pack adds Adaptive Cruise Control and Pilot Assist, auto dimming for side mirrors plus a further four parking sensors and 360-degree birds eye view.
Plus adds a heated steering wheel, full power seat adjustment, an energysaving heat pump, air fltration system, wireless phone charger, 600 watt 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio plus full-length panoramic glass roof.
Like the car itself, buying a Polestar is a whole new experience too. There are no dealerships, one orders and pays for the car online. You can however book a test drive, at a designated ‘space’ in each of the capital cities or at a location of your choosing.
Polestar offers a 5-year fve warranty, along with 5 years complimentary servicing and roadside assistance.
The battery is covered by an 8-year/160,000km warranty.
INFOTAINMENT
Pride of place in the Ikeainspired cab is occupied by a large Tesla-like 11.2-inch portrait style touchscreen affxed to the dash.
Polestar 2 is the frst car to be ftted with a built-in Google operating system that includes Google Assistant, Google Maps, with charging options and Google Play Store, which offers optimised in-car apps for seamless integration.
It’s an Android environment, but iPhone users have not been entirely forgotten, with Apple CarPlay/Siri.
The system is connected to the net and receives overthe-air updates like a phone.
There are two USB Type-C connections in the front and two more in the rear.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The Dual Motor version really cranks performance up a notch or two. Output jumps from 170kW and 330Nm, to a whopping 300kW of power and 660Nm of torque.
Drive is to all four wheels through a single reduction gear transmission.
SAFETY
Polestar 2 gets a full fvestar crash rating, with a rear-view camera and seven airbags including a centre airbag.
There’s also autonomous emergency braking (Carto-Car, Vulnerable Road User and Junction Assist) as well as a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW) and emergency lane keeping (ELK), and an advanced speed assistance system (SAS).
You don’t get blind spot warning, cross traffc alert with brake support, rear collision warning and mitigation, nor adaptive cruise control – which are all part of the $3400 Pilot Lite pack.
DRIVING
With 660Nm of torque on tap the dash from 0-100km/ h takes just 4.7 seconds.
One imagines the extra load of a second electric motor, along with the demands of all-wheel drive would have an impact on the range of the vehicle.
In fact, the dual motor model gets up to 487km, compared to 478km (WLTP) for the single motor front-wheel drive version.
But the long-range single motor model still pips both of them, with a range of up to 551km.
There’s no key or start button as such, you just put it in Drive (or Reverse), hit the accelerator and start driving.
But the abrupt way the parking brake disengages as well as the way it surges forward can be a little unnerving.
Acceleration in this model is rapid but requires a decisive right foot to get going. Overtaking can be accomplished virtually at will with all that instant torque on tap.
Weighing in at 2113kg, however, there’s a sense of weight when driving the car, as it bumps and thunks its way over the bad roads and speed humps of suburbia.
This disappears as the car transitions to the billiard table-fat pavement of the motorway.
Although it’s 120kg heavier than the single motor model we drove previously, apart from the questionable ride quality, the extra power of the two motors more than compensates for this weight.
Bear in mind, however, the harder you drive the car and the more often you plant the accelerator, the quicker it will eat through the remaining kilometres.
Regenerative braking recaptures some power when the car is travelling downhill.
You can choose between two levels of regenerative braking via the touchscreen and adopt a one-pedal style of driving where there’s no need to apply the brakes.
Just lifting off the accelerator brings the car to a halt. It takes some practice and my wife for one switched it off.
With a 78kWh battery array, 75kWh of which is useable, energy consumption is a claimed 19.4-20.2 kWh/100km (WLTP).
We chalked up 540km at a rate of 21.4 kWh/100km.
Once again, the extra-long seven-metre charging cable is welcome.
For us it means with a bit of maneuvering it is possible to charge the car without having to move the car in front.
Charging takes as little as 35 minutes using a public, high-powered DC fast charger or eight hours with a home wallbox (with threephase power).
No fgures are supplied for a standard 10A power point, but we were able to top up a half empty battery in about 19 hours.
Although no SUV, Polestar 2 sits at a comfortable height for access with a liftback that rises to reveal a long but shallow luggage area (and hidden area underneath). There’s also some extra storage in the front boot or frunk as it is known. No provision for a spare tyre. Instead, a puncture repair kit is provided.
Inside, it’s Swedish and minimalist, with a highroofed, light airy cabin that has an upmarket feel. But some of the ergonomics need sorting out.
It’s easy to catch your feet on the control pedals when getting in and out, and the back seat is cramped, with a low roof line.
And here’s one I didn’t see coming. The deeply recessed front windows are set back a good 6cm or so.
It was enough to catch my left shoulder on the lip as I was getting out, with painful consequences.
It’s surprising that in a car as hi-tech as this one, there’s no head-up display -- not even of the pop-up plastic variety.
It’s interesting to note that while Google Maps can keep tabs on the speed limit, it can’t or won’t provide warnings of school zones and speed cameras.
SUMMING UP
While most buyers will be drawn to the extra performance offered by the dual motor model, we’d quite happily settle for the long range, single motor version.
At this stage of the transition, it is all about range and charging, and even with one electric motor still provides a satisfying level of performance.
MODEL RANGE
Standard Range (single motor), $63,900 Long Range (single motor), $68,400 Long Range (dual motor), $73,400
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact Polestar for driveaway prices.
SPECIFICATIONS
(Polestar 2, Long Range Single Motor, fully electric, fve-door fastback)
PERFORMANCE:
Battery capacity: 78 kWh Maximum Power: 300 kW Maximum Torque: 660 Nm Fuel Type: Electricity Plug Type: Mode 2 and Type 1 Charging: Up to 11kW (AC) or 150kW (DC) Maximum range: 487 km Energy Use: 19.4-20.2 kWh/100km CO2 Emissions: 0 g/km
DRIVELINE:
Single-speed reduction gear transmission, single electric motor, all-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4606 mm Wheelbase: 2735 mm Width: 1859 mm Height: 1479 mm Turning Circle: 11.5 metres Kerb Mass: 2113 kg
BRAKES:
Front: Ventilated disc Rear: Ventilated disc
POLESTAR 3 – GO BIG OR GO HOME
By CHRIS RILEY
Polestar 3 has hit the decks and it’s big – in every way.
Based on Volvo’s XC90 replacement, the all-electric EX90, the fve-seat SUV comes with a big price, a big battery, big electric range and tips the scales at a big 2500 kilos plus.
Powered by two electric motors, with a 111kWh battery, the launch edition puts out 360kW and 840Nm, with a range of up to 610km. Optioned with the Performance Pack, those outputs jump to 380kW and 910kW.
It’s priced from an “indicative” $135,000 initially and you can register your interest now, with frst deliveries expected towards the end of
next year.
Polestar 3 (P3) is the frst car from Volvo’s electric performance brand to feature Nvidia Drive hardware, together with software from Volvo Cars.
Nvidia’s highperformance automotive platform processes data from the car’s sensors and cameras to enable driver monitoring and advanced driver-assist features.
The infotainment system is powered by a nextgeneration Snapdragon Cockpit Platform from Qualcomm Technologies.
The Snapdragon Digital Chassis consists of a comprehensive set of open and scalable cloudconnected automotive platforms.
It provides an immersive in-vehicle experience, with high-defnition displays, premium surround sound and seamless connectivity.
Like other Volvos and Polestars, it has built-in Android Automotive OS co-developed with Google, together with a 14.5-inch vertically mounted centre display.
Over-the-air updates are included to allow for continuous software improvement and introduction of new features without the need to visit a service point.
In another frst, radar sensors can detect minute movements in the cabin to help protect against accidentally leaving children or pets inside, and are linked to the climate control system to avoid heat stroke or hypothermia.
Cameras also monitor the driver’s eyes and can trigger warning messages, sounds and even an emergency stop function when detecting a distracted, drowsy or disconnected driver.
P3 features optimised aerodynamics, with a front aero wing integrated into the bonnet, an aero wing integrated into the rear spoiler and rear aero blades.
Adjustable one-pedal drive is included, as well as an electric Torque Vectoring Dual Clutch function on the rear axle – an evolution of the tech developed for Polestar 1.
A decoupling function is also available for the rear electric motor, allowing the car to run only on the front motor to save energy under certain circumstances.
Advanced chassis control is provided by dualchamber air suspension as standard, allowing Polestar 3 to adapt between comfort and dynamic suspension characteristics.
Materials used inside the car have been selected for their sustainability, while raising premium aesthetics and luxury tactility.
These include bioattributed MicroTech, animal welfare-certifed leather and fully traceable wool upholsteries.
P3 is also equipped for bidirectional charging, enabling future potential for vehicle-to-grid and plugand-charge capabilities.
All versions include air suspension, a full-length panoramic glass roof, all-LED lighting inside and out, retractable door handles with proximity sensing and 21-inch alloy wheels.
The Plus Pack and Pilot Pack will be ftted as standard for the frst model year and include a raft of premium, luxury and convenience features.
These include Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker audio with 3D surround sound and Dolby Atmos capability, soft-closing doors, a head-up display and Pilot Assist.
Available to order from the second quarter of 2023, the optional Pilot Pack with LiDAR from Luminar will add an additional control
unit from Nvidia.
With three cameras, four ultrasonic sensors and cleaning for the front- and rear-view cameras, it provides accurate realtime data about the car’s surroundings especially in the long-range feld.
This enables enhanced 3D scanning of the car’s surroundings in greater detail and helps prepare the car for autonomous driving.
As well as an increase in power, the optional Performance Pack also sharpens driving dynamics, with performance optimised air suspension, unique 22-inch forged alloys and additional signature ‘Swedish gold’ details.
P3 is the frst car to be based on new all-electric technology developed by and shared with Volvo Cars.
Production for initial launch markets is planned to begin in Chengdu, China, in an incremental ramp-up phase from mid-2023, with frst deliveries expected in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Additional manufacturing at Volvo’s South Carolina facility in the United States is expected to follow excellent driving dynamics.
“It takes our manufacturing footprint to the next level, bringing Polestar production to the United States,” he said. “We are proud and excited to expand our portfolio
towards the middle of 2024.
Polestar’s Thomas Ingenlath said Polestar 3 is a powerful electric SUV that will appeal to the senses with a distinct, Scandinavian design and as we continue our rapid growth.”
Australian customers can register their interest online from 13 October 2022. Full specifcation available at
www.polestar.com/au
DISCOVER OUR RANGE, CARS FROM $11,990
Avenger is Jeep’s frst fully electric SUV AVENGER JEEP’S FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC SUV
By CHRIS RILEY
Jeep has taken the wraps off its frst fully electric SUV. The all-new Avenger also has the distinction of being Jeep’s smallest SUV to date.
It will be produced in Poland and is targeted at European customers, with a unique combination of capability, style, functionality and technology.
Avenger will be offered in mild hybrid and battery electric form and shares a platform with the Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka and DS 3 Crossback.
A new generation 400volt electric powertrain produces 115kW of power and 260Nm of torque.
With a new 54kWh battery, it offers an allelectric range of 400km (WLTP). Charging with a 100kW DC commercial charger takes 24 minutes to charge from 20 to 80 per cent.
An 11kW Mode 3 cable from a wallbox or public charge station, takes 5.5 hours from 0 to 100 per cent.
Battery elements are located under the front and rear seats.
Measuring 4.08 metres in length, Avenger is a full 16cm shorter than the Renegade.
It’s the frst front-wheel drive Jeep equipped with standard Selec-Terrain and Hill Descent Control.
Together with impressive approach and departure angles and 200mm of ground clearance, it delivers benchmark off road ability for the segment.
Selec-Terrain offers six modes: “Normal” for everyday driving; “Eco” to enhance range; “Sport” for more driving fun; “Snow” for maximum traction on icy roads or trails; “Mud” to optimize mud performance and to enhance grip; and “Sand” to limit the risk of becoming stuck on sandy soil.
Jeep says Avenger’s architecture achieves the highest possible levels of compactness without compromising any of the brand’s distinct characteristics.
In order to reduce any damage caused by low-speed impacts, which account for about 70 per cent of cases in Europe, it’s equipped with skid plates, 360-degree cladding and encased headlights for protection.
It believes this will make the vehicle a valuable and appealing choice for those who are looking for a zeroemission alternative to the more traditional players in the segment.
Avenger arrives in showrooms early next year, but customers can already pre-book the exclusive Launch Edition, an eye-catching, fully equipped version.
Finished in two-tone paint, it features 18-inch alloys, privacy glass and full LED lights front and rear.
Inside there is coloured ambient lighting and a yellow dashboard, as well as heated black seats with yellow accents, a heated windshield, a pad cover for the central console, height adjustable cargo foor and hands-free power tailgate.
The Uconnect infotainment system features a 10.25-inch touchscreen and fully digital instrument cluster, together with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and wireless smartphone charging pad.
Exclusive to the electric version, the Launch Edition is equipped with Level 2 ADAS systems which allow drivers to maintain their speed, distance from the vehicle ahead and the centre of the lane in a completely autonomous way.
Thanks to Level 2 autonomous driving, it is possible to drive almost autonomously in traffc thanks to the Traffc Jam Assist system.
Capping off the equipment list is climate air, blind spot alerts, autodimming rear view mirror, power-fold and heated side mirrors, parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.
Buyers of the Launch Edition get to choose between a wallbox for domestic charging or RFID card for public charging.
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Porsche has added a Touring variant to its Macan SUV range
MACAN FIRST FOUR-DOOR PORSCHE TO WEAR THE T
By CHRIS RILEY
Porsche has expanded its Macan range with the addition of the new Macan T in Australia.
The letter “T” stands for “Touring” and has been applied to selected Porsche models since the 1960s.
Macan is the frst fourdoor Porsche to wear the badge that has been previously reserved for 911 and 718 models.
The Macan T will sit between the entry Macan and Macan S in a fourmodel range, with the GTS at the top of the line-up.
It’s powered by the newly developed turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine from the entrylevel model, with 195 kW of power and maximum torque of 400Nm between 1800 and 4500 rpm.
Paired with a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission, with drive to all four wheels, it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and has a top speed of 232km/h with the standard-ft Sport Chrono package. Fuel consumption is a claimed 9.5L/100km.
Macan T is ftted with 8-way electrically adjustable sports seats. Both front seats are heated.
With a rear-wheel drive bias Macan T uses steel-sprung suspension, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and a 15mm lower ride height.
Macan T also uses stiffer anti-roll bars on the front axle to reduce body roll and provide a more direct steering feel for the driver. As a result, it delivers increased agility, responsive steering behaviour and sportscar handling deliver great driving pleasure along with long-distance touring comfort and everyday usability.
Front brakes are 34 x 350mm diameter vented discs, with four-piston aluminium monobloc fxed brake calipers. At the rear are 22 x 330mm diameter vented discs, with combination foating calipers. The 20-inch light alloy Macan S wheels fnished in Dark Titanium are ftted with 265/45 R20 tyres front and 295/40 R20 tyres at the rear.
Macan T is offered in 13 different exterior paint colours.
Porsche Macan T is priced from $92,700 plus on-roads.
Motoring History ALFA ROMEO P3
By ALISTAIR KENNEDY
Vittorio Jano designed a number of classic Grand Prix cars for Alfa and produced the dual-purpose sports and Grand Prix 2.3-litre Tipo 8C in 1931. In its sportscar form this car was particularly successful winning four Le Mans 24hour races over the period 1931-1934.
Following the 8C, a version with higher supercharger boost was produced which initially was to be named Monza after its frst Grand Prix victory at that circuit in May 1931. However, Maserati and Bugatti had cars which proved they were capable of beating the Alfa Monza.
As a consequence, Jano was given the green light to go ahead and design a new faster Grand Prix car which he did in 1932. Originally this car was designated the Tipo B2600 but later became unoffcially referred to as the P3, since the P1 and P2 had set new standards for Alfa Romeo in Grand Prix racing in each of the decades between the two world wars. The P3 was the frst true single-seat Grand Prix car.
Painted red, the P3 Grand Prix cars were very successful. Their functional appearance from classic radiator to neatly tapered tail soon became the almost standard image for a Grand Prix car. They had a wide track with large wire wheels which were enhanced by large brakes in polished aluminium drums.
They were powered by a front mounted water-cooled straight eight engine with two four-cylinder blocks, with alloy heads in line at 2336cc. A central drive was used for the camshafts and the twin Roots-type superchargers. This arrangement produced an unstressed power output of 160kW and drove through a four-speed gearbox, immediately behind which was a differential and an unconventional bifurcated drive, with two angled propeller shafts to the rear wheels.
Although the P3 had wins in 1932, Alfa Romeo went through a restructuring in 1933 when racing was stopped. However, Enzo Ferrari convinced the Alfa management they should begin racing again. With Scuderia Ferrari, the P3s immediately started winning again. After 1934 new German Grand Prix teams started to dominate the European tracks and soon put an end to the P3’s supremacy.
In an effort to regain their former prowess, the P3s were uprated to 2905cc producing 190kW with three-speed gearboxes and then in 1935 a further uprating to 3165cc producing 198kW. This time the uprating included a change in front suspension and addition of hydraulic brakes.
These changes enabled one last glorious victory when a P3 humbled the Germans in their home Grand Prix, as a climax to the outstanding racing career of Jano’s Alfa Romeos.
