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Tesla Model 3 vs Polestar 2: performance, features, batteries, and price
Volvo’s Polestar 2, which has been dubbed as a potential competitor to the best-selling Tesla Model 3, was recently unveiled. Here is a comparison of the vehicles in terms of their performance, features, batteries, and price.
Performance and Features
The Polestar 2 is equipped with dual motors that produce 408 hp, which allow the car to go from 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds. It is also an electric vehicle that features a deep integration with Google’s Android ecosystem, with its interior being dominated by an 11″ touchscreen that is loaded to the brim with familiar apps like Google Maps and Google Play Music. The Polestar 2 even has Google Assistant, which is arguably one of the most robust voice assistants in the market today, rivaling Apple’s Siri and Samsung’s Bixby.
The Model 3 features Tesla’s trademark performance and tech. The Model 3 Performance, which is in the same price category as the Polestar 2 Launch Edition (the first version of the car that will enter production), is equipped with dual motors that produce 450 hp, allowing the vehicle to sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The Model 3 also features Tesla’s custom tech for its electric cars, which include features such as Autopilot. The vehicle also receives regular, free over-the-air software updates, which improve the vehicle and add features such as the recently-released Sentry Mode and Dog Mode.
Batteries and Range
The Polestar 2 is equipped with a sizable 78 kWh battery pack comprised of cells from LG Chem, which the company expects will give the fastback a range of 275 miles per charge. This figure is lower than the estimates of Polestar COO Jonathan Goodman last year, when he mentioned to Autocar at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed that the Polestar 2 will have a range of around 350 miles per charge.
In comparison, the Long Range Tesla Model 3 is equipped with a ~75 kWh battery pack made of cells produced in Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 in Nevada. Despite having a smaller battery than the Polestar 2, the Long Range Model 3 features more range at 310 miles per charge. Tesla’s Mid Range Model 3, which is speculated to be equipped with a 62 kWh battery, features a range of 264 miles per charge.
Price
At a price between $45,000 for the base version and $68,000 for the fully-loaded top-tier variant, the Polestar 2 is a pretty solid option in the electric vehicle market. The Polestar 2 “Launch Edition,” which costs $63,000 and is expected to be produced first, is priced comparably with the Model 3 Performance, providing would-be electric car buyers who do not wish to purchase a Tesla a good alternative.
Tesla has been able to bring the price of the Model 3 down over the past few months. Currently, Tesla sells the vehicle’s most affordable variant, the Mid Range Model 3, for $42,900 before savings. The Long Range Dual Motor AWD Model 3 sells for $49,900 before savings, and the top-tier Model 3 Performance costs $60,900 before savings. Buyers who opt to purchase Enhanced Autopilot can order the driver-assist system for $5,000.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it should be noted that the Polestar 2 is something more than a competitor for the Model 3. It is a well-rounded vehicle produced by an experienced carmaker that is unashamedly electric; and thus, it is more of a threat to gasoline-powered cars than it is to other EVs on the market. With vehicles such as the Model 3 and the Polestar 2, it might be only a matter of time before the era of high-performance sedans such as the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S comes to an end.
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Tesla HW4.5 spotted in new Model Y, triggers speculation
Owners taking delivery of recent Model Y builds have identified components labeled “AP45.”
Tesla’s Hardware 4.5 computer appears to have surfaced in newly delivered Model Y vehicles, prompting fresh speculation about an interim upgrade ahead of the company’s upcoming AI5 chip.
Owners taking delivery of recent Model Y builds have identified components labeled “AP45,” suggesting Tesla may have quietly started rolling out revised autonomy hardware.
Hardware 4.5 appears in new Model Y units
The potential Hardware 4.5 sighting was first reported by Model Y owner @Eric5un, who shared details of a Fremont-built 2026 Model Y AWD Premium delivered this January. As per the Model Y owner, the vehicle includes a new front camera housing and a 16-inch center display, along with an Autopilot computer labeled “AP45” and part number 2261336-02-A.
The Tesla owner later explained that he confirmed the part number by briefly pulling down the upper carpet liner below the Model Y’s glovebox. Other owners soon reported similar findings. One Model Y Performance owner noted that their December build also appeared to include Hardware 4.5, while another owner of an Austin-built Model Y Performance reported spotting the same “AP45” hardware.
These sightings suggest that Tesla may already be installing revised FSD computers in its new Model Y batches, despite the company not yet making any formal announcements about Hardware 4.5.
What Hardware 4.5 could represent
Clues about Hardware 4.5 have surfaced previously in Tesla’s Electronic Parts Catalog. As reported by NotATeslaApp, the catalog has listed a component described as “CAR COMPUTER – LEFT HAND DRIVE – PROVISIONED – HARDWARE 4.5.” The component, which features the part number 2261336-S2-A, is priced at $2,300.00.
Longtime Tesla hacker @greentheonly has noted that Tesla software has contained references to a possible three-SoC architecture for some time. Previous generations of Tesla’s FSD computer, including Hardware 3 and Hardware 4, use a dual-SoC design for redundancy. A three-SoC layout could allow for higher inference throughput and improved fault tolerance.
Such an architecture could also serve as a bridge to AI5, Tesla’s next-generation autonomy chip expected to enter production later in 2026. As Tesla’s neural networks grow larger and more computationally demanding, Hardware 4.5 may provide additional headroom for vehicles built before AI5 becomes widely available.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia is getting cited by OpenAI’s ChatGPT
Some responses generated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT have recently referenced information from Grokipedia.
Some responses generated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT have recently referenced information from Grokipedia, an AI-generated encyclopedia developed by rival xAI, which was founded by Elon Musk. The citations appeared across a limited set of queries.
Reports about the matter were initially reported by The Guardian.
Grokipedia references in ChatGPT
Grokipedia launched in October as part of xAI’s effort to build an alternative to Wikipedia, which has become less centrist over the years. Unlike Wikipedia, which is moderated and edited by humans, Grokipedia is purely AI-powered, allowing it to approach topics with as little bias as possible, at least in theory. This model has also allowed Grokipedia to grow its article base quickly, with recent reports indicating that it has created over 6 million articles, more than 80% of English Wikipedia.
The Guardian reported that ChatGPT cited Grokipedia nine times across responses to more than a dozen user questions during its tests. As per the publication, the Grokipedia citations did not appear when ChatGPT was asked about high-profile or widely documented topics. Instead, Grokipedia was referenced in responses to more obscure historical or biographical claims. The pattern suggested selective use rather than broad reliance on the source, at least for now.
Broader Grokipedia use
The Guardian also noted that Grokipedia citations were not exclusive to ChatGPT. Anthropic’s AI assistant Claude reportedly showed similar references to Grokipedia in some responses, highlighting a broader issue around how large language models identify and weigh publicly available information.
In a statement to The Guardian, an OpenAI spokesperson stated that ChatGPT “aims to draw from a broad range of publicly available sources and viewpoints.” “We apply safety filters to reduce the risk of surfacing links associated with high-severity harms, and ChatGPT clearly shows which sources informed a response through citations,” the spokesperson stated.
Anthropic, for its part, did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. As for xAI, the artificial intelligence startup simply responded with a short comment that stated, “Legacy media lies.”
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Tesla Europe builds momentum with expanding FSD demos and regional launches
Needless to say, it appears that Tesla is putting in some serious effort into boosting sales in Europe this year.
Tesla has been notably active across Europe in recent weeks, expanding its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) ride-along program, entering a new market, and showcasing its newest vehicles across multiple regions.
Needless to say, it appears that Tesla is putting in some serious effort into boosting sales in Europe this year.
Tesla Europe recently announced the expansion of its FSD (Supervised) ride-along experiences, inviting the public to experience the system on local roads. Initially available in Italy, France, and Germany when it launched, the program has now expanded to Hungary, Finland, and Spain.
The ride-along program allows participants to ride in the passenger seat and observe how FSD Supervised handles real-world traffic scenarios, including dense urban driving and other challenging conditions. Tesla has positioned the initiative as a way to familiarize European drivers and regulators with the system’s capabilities in everyday use. The program has received positive reviews so far, with many being impressed by FSD’s real-world capabilities.
Tesla also recently launched operations in Slovakia with a pop-up store and multi-day public event in Bratislava, as noted in an EV Wire report. The launch, held from January 16 to 18 at the Eurovea Mall Promenade, featured test drives, vehicle displays, including the Cybertruck, as well as family-focused attractions such as a mini-Tesla racetrack.
Local observers noted that Tesla Optimus was also shown at the event, while the Tesla Owners Slovakia club welcomed the brand with a coordinated light show near the Slovak National Theater. Tesla Europe later shared its appreciation for Slovakia in a post on its official social media account on X, stating, “Thanks, Slovakia, for the amazing last 3 days & for giving us such a warm welcome!”
Tesla’s Slovakia entry follows a familiar pattern used by the company in other European markets. Tesla opened a pop-up store in Bratislava as an initial step, with plans for a permanent showroom and a potential service center at a renovated site previously occupied by a Jeep and Dodge dealership. Tesla has used a similar approach in markets such as Czechia and Lithuania, where permanent facilities followed within a few months of pop-up launches.
Slovakia already has six Supercharging sites totaling 46 Superchargers, including two locations in Bratislava, providing early infrastructure support for Tesla owners. Tesla staff program manager Supratik Saha described the Slovakia launch as a strategic expansion in the heart of the EU, citing the country’s strong automotive manufacturing base and appetite for advanced technology.
Beyond the EU, the company also marked another milestone with the first Cybertruck deliveries in the United Arab Emirates, signaling continued geographic expansion for Tesla’s newest vehicle. Just like Tesla Slovakia, the Cybertruck also received a warm welcome from the UAE’s EV community.
Tesla HW4.5 spotted in new Model Y, triggers speculation
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia is getting cited by OpenAI’s ChatGPT
