Business 239
Volkswagen Backed Electric Bugatti Before Rimac Pushed for V16
Polestar Aims to Outdrive BMW i3 With Next-Generation 2
Polestar's head of driving dynamics says the second-generation Polestar 2 will beat BMW's new i3 on driving experience when it arrives in 2027, as the Swedish brand targets sharper handling rather than a specification-sheet arms race.
By Charlotte Redford · 3 min read
Polestar has set its sights on BMW's new i3, with the Swedish electric carmaker's head of driving dynamics claiming the second-generation Polestar 2 will deliver a sharper driving experience than its German rival when it arrives in 2027. Joakim Rydholm said the company must beat the new i3, pointing to lessons learned during the development of the Polestar 5 — particularly around active dampers and steering — that will feed into the next-generation 2.
The claim is unusual in its directness. Carmakers rarely name a rival and promise to outperform it before either model has been fully assessed by buyers or reviewers. But Polestar's confidence reflects a broader ambition: to compete with BMW on handling and driver engagement rather than simply on range, charging speed and acceleration.
BMW's new i3 will not be an easy target. An M Performance version, the i3 M60, has already been revealed, and while BMW has not disclosed its technical specifications, the car is expected to carry over hardware from the iX3 M60 in a lower-slung sedan package. That crossover uses a dual-motor setup producing 603 horsepower and 875 Nm of torque, enough to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds. The iX3 M60 tops out at 149 mph and can travel 754 kilometres on a single charge. The equivalent i3 M60 could be quicker and more efficient thanks to its lower weight and more aerodynamic sedan body.
Beyond the M Performance model, BMW is preparing a full-fat electric M3 with a confirmed quad-motor setup, also due next year. That will take performance into a different league, and Polestar will need to do its homework if it wants to go head-to-head with Munich across the range.
Polestar's ambitions come against a mixed commercial backdrop. The Geely-owned brand recorded its best-ever third quarter in 2026, delivering 14,371 cars worldwide, up 1 per cent year on year. Through September it shipped 44,790 vehicles, up 0.6 per cent from the first nine months of 2025. That is not explosive growth, but it shows the company remains in the game as it prepares to launch the next-generation 2 in 2027.
In the United States, new regulations have effectively barred Polestar from selling new cars starting with the 2027 model year, removing a key market from its plans. In Europe and other markets, however, the brand remains a credible competitor for BMW's electric buyers.
The next-generation 2 will therefore carry significant weight for Polestar. Rydholm's comments suggest the company wants the car to be judged on how it feels from behind the wheel, not just on the numbers in a brochure. Whether it can genuinely out-handle the i3 remains to be seen, but the newcomer is at least aiming for something more interesting than winning the electric-car specification-sheet arms race.
8
