THE GOOD OIL

What is it with electric vehicle manufacturers and their insistence on keeping nameplates down to the bare minimum?

Volvo’s EV offshoot, Polestar, has unveiled its second rather handsome creation. And yes, somewhat inevitably, it’s called the Polestar 2. The revealing of the new five-door hatchback follows on from last year’s debut of the Polestar 1 electric two-door coupe. Keeping up?

Here at The Good Oil, you’d think a line-up of stylish electric vehicles would lend itself to all sorts of outrageous badge-fodder.

General Motors gave it a go with Volt and Bolt. Other than that, though, appliance-like names seem to be the fashion.

What about Lightning? Superconductor? Static? Okay, maybe not that last one.

At least Tesla is having a bit of fun with its Models S, 3, X and forthcoming Y. Other than that, though, it’s all R1T and i3. Jaguar’s I-Pace isn’t even on the money, seeing as it should really have been called the E-Pace (the name the Brit brand has prescribed to its compact crossover SUV instead, for some reason).

As to the Polestar 2, the company says its new all-wheel-drive EV has a 300-mile (482km) range from two electric motors and a 78kWh battery pack.

System output is 304kW and 660Nm. Polestar says there will be an optional performance package available too, which adds Ohlins dampers, Brembo brakes and 20in wheels.

The Polestar 2 will also be among the world’s first cars to use an Androidpowered infotainment system. Embedded Google services such as Google Assistant, Google Maps with support for EVs and Google Play Store are to be incorporated into a car for the first time.

And of course, there will be a mid-size electric crossover joining the Polestar range in 2021.

It’s called the Polestar 3. But of course it is.