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Polestar 3 gets a major hardware upgrade for 2026
Polestar has revealed a substantial mid-cycle refresh for its flagship electric SUV, the Polestar 3, that goes far beyond cosmetic tweaks. For the 2026 model year the company has reworked the car’s electrical architecture, powertrain, battery chemistry and central computing unit — upgrades that aim to sharpen performance, reduce charging time and deliver smarter vehicle software. Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller went so far as to call the revised 3 “like an entirely new car,” and the technical changes explain why.
Key highlights
- 800-volt electrical system enabling much faster DC charging
- New CATL lithium-ion packs (92 kWh or 106 kWh depending on trim)
- In-house rear motor across the range and up to 500 kW peak output
- NVIDIA DRIVE Xavier replaced by an AGX Orin-based central computer (254 TOPS)
- Simplified three-tier lineup: Rear motor, Dual motor, Performance
800V architecture and rapid charging
The headline technical shift is the move to an 800-volt electrical system. For drivers this translates into significantly faster DC fast charging: Polestar says the updated 3 can accept up to 350 kW at capable chargers, cutting a typical 10–80% session to around 22 minutes. That’s more than a 25% improvement over the outgoing car and makes the Polestar 3 more compelling for long-distance touring and frequent highway use.
Polestar’s adoption of 800V aligns the 3 with the modern high-power EV ecosystem and reduces time spent tethered to charging stations — an increasingly important selling point as owners expect EVs to match combustion cars in everyday convenience.
Batteries and efficiency gains
Polestar partnered with CATL for the new lithium-ion cells. The Rear motor model ships with a 92 kWh pack, while Dual motor and Performance variants use a larger 106 kWh pack. Despite reportedly being smaller on paper than the previous chemistry, the new packs and updated power electronics deliver improved energy efficiency — Polestar claims up to a 6% benefit in overall efficiency, helping to extend range under real-world driving conditions.
The WLTP figures reflect the balance Polestar aimed for:
- Rear motor: 92 kWh — WLTP up to 604 km
- Dual motor: 106 kWh — WLTP up to 635 km
- Performance: 106 kWh — WLTP around 593 km
These numbers indicate Polestar optimized the battery and drivetrain calibration for both efficiency and performance across the lineup.
Performance: more power across the lineup
Every 2026 Polestar 3 gains a new rear electric motor developed in-house, paired with an asynchronous front motor in the AWD cars. The result is a sizeable increase in available power:
- Rear motor: 245 kW, 480 Nm, 0–100 km/h in 6.5 s, top speed 210 km/h
- Dual motor (AWD): 400 kW, 740 Nm, 0–100 km/h in 4.7 s, top speed 230 km/h
- Performance: 500 kW, 870 Nm, 0–100 km/h in 3.9 s, top speed 230 km/h
The Performance model is now rated at up to 500 kW — roughly 120 kW more than before — while the AWD Dual motor gains 20 kW compared with the previous Performance trim. To balance efficiency and dynamics, the front motor can decouple in light-load conditions (a strategy used in the Polestar 2), shifting drive bias rearward for improved handling feel and reduced drag losses.
Chassis tweaks such as revised anti-roll bars and refined steering software further aim to sharpen driving engagement without sacrificing ride comfort.
The new "brain": AGX Orin replaces Xavier
Arguably the most transformative upgrade is the central compute unit. Polestar has swapped the older NVIDIA DRIVE Xavier module for the far more powerful AGX Orin processor. Processing capability jumps from 30 TOPS to an industry-leading 254 TOPS — an eightfold increase. That extra compute headroom enables faster, more sophisticated handling of ADAS, sensor fusion, battery management and over-the-air updates.
Importantly, Polestar will offer this new computer as a complimentary retrofit to existing Polestar 3 owners — a notable customer-focused move. Retrofit installations are scheduled to start in early 2026, letting earlier buyers benefit from the same AI and safety improvements as new cars.
Trim structure, design and interior details
Polestar simplified the lineup into three clear trims: Rear motor, Dual motor and Performance. Visual and material upgrades include a new exterior color called "Storm" (dark grey metallic) and a standardized premium Bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery in Charcoal with repurposed aluminum trim as standard equipment — an option that used to be paid. Polestar has also added playful but distinct interior cues: seatbelt detailing varies by trim (black on the base car, a Swedish gold stripe on Dual motor, full Swedish gold on Performance).
The company also rationalized option packages to make personalization easier and clearer for buyers.
Market positioning and price
The UK is the first market to receive the updated Polestar 3 — a sign of how popular the model has become there; the 2025 allocation reportedly sold out. Pricing starts at €82,070, only €106 higher than before, which underlines Polestar’s strategy to pack substantive upgrades without a steep price jump.
For buyers comparison-shopping among premium electric SUVs, the refreshed Polestar 3 now competes more directly on charging speed, range efficiency and in-car intelligence. The combination of 800V charging, updated battery chemistry, stronger motors and an Orin-based central computer creates a package that is both more practical for long trips and more exciting to drive.
What this means for owners and shoppers
If you own a Polestar 3, the pending complimentary Orin retrofit is the biggest headline: it ensures your SUV will receive modern compute capability for improved safety and functionality. For prospective buyers, the 2026 model delivers meaningful real-world benefits — shorter charging stops, higher power outputs and improved efficiency — while preserving Polestar’s minimalist Scandinavian design language.
Polestar’s refresh is a reminder that for EV makers, incremental software updates aren’t enough; hardware evolutions remain critical. By addressing the battery, motors, charging architecture and compute in one go, Polestar has repositioned the 3 as a more competitive, contemporary electric SUV heading into the mid-2020s.
Quick spec snapshot
- Charging: AC 11 kW, DC up to 310 kW (Rear) / 350 kW (Dual & Performance)
- Battery: 92 kWh (Rear), 106 kWh (Dual & Performance)
- Top range (WLTP): up to 635 km (Dual motor)
- Max power: 245–500 kW across trims
- Compute: NVIDIA Xavier -> NVIDIA AGX Orin (254 TOPS)
Whether you prioritize long-distance practicality, outright performance, or advanced in-car intelligence, the 2026 Polestar 3 arrives with upgrades that matter. Expect deliveries to roll out to additional markets shortly after the UK launch.
Source: arenaev
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