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The Volvo Polestar 2 Is the First Google-Powered, All-Electric Car (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the natively-supported dept.

The Polestar 2 is the first all-electric car from Volvo, and the first car to feature Google's new native version of Android Auto. Billed as a competitor to Tesla's Model 3, "the Polestar 2 should be able to travel up to 275 miles (about 443 kilometers) on a single charge thanks to a 78kWh battery that makes up the entire floor of the car," reports The Verge. "It will be quick, too; Polestar says there's 300kW (about 408 horsepower) to play with, spread across dual electric motors. That all-wheel drive power should help the car get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds." From the report: All this will eventually cost about 39,900 euros, or about $45,000, at the cheapest. Polestar will sell versions of the car that cost as much as 59,900 euros, or about $68,000. But none of that will happen until the second year of production. The version available when the car launches later this year will cost $63,000, and Polestar will make only that "launch edition" car for the first 12 months. Pre-orders are open now, and production begins next year in China (where Volvo's Chinese parent company Geely is headquartered). Polestar's launching the car with in an ambitious slate of markets, too: China, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium.
[...]
[T]he Polestar 2's interior looks more fully developed and coherent than the one in the Polestar 1, to my eyes at least. The centerpiece is an 11-inch portrait oriented touchscreen where the company's Android-based infotainment system lives. Car companies have built infotainment systems on Android in the past, but they essentially had to fork the open source operating system and build their own solution on top. What's more, Google wasn't involved in those efforts. This meant the cars would wind up with outdated versions of Google's operating system, which complicated upgrades and security. [...] A big benefit to this embedded approach is customers will have instant access to Android Auto-approved apps like Google Maps, or Play Music, or Google Assistant without needing to use their smartphones. Another is that it will have access to the car's functions, meaning it can control climate settings, or send you maintenance alerts. This native version of Android will also be updatable, meaning Polestar and Google can push over-the-air software updates to improve the car's functions long after it's sold.

92 comments

  1. Why would you take a perfectly good car... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And put fucking Android on it, lol. That just screams bad idea.

    1. Re: Why would you take a perfectly good car... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So it can mine cryptocurrency, duh

    2. Re: Why would you take a perfectly good car... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also why would you power it by piece of shit batteries.

    3. Re:Why would you take a perfectly good car... by Excelcia · · Score: 1

      It's also a sad state of affairs when a car is announced to be "powered" by what amounts to the dashboard.

    4. Re: Why would you take a perfectly good car... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's marketing aimed at non techy millennials. The same people to whom "the internet" usually just means "social media".

  2. Volvo Polestar 2! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Prepare to be shafted 2x as fast, 2x as hard, and 2x as long!

    Seriously though, who wants fucking spy companies in their cars? The shit people do in their cars most would never want anyone else to see, hear, or otherwise monitor.

  3. This must be some other Android Auto... by magarity · · Score: 2

    ... than the one in my car, which just displays the map from my phone and plays some music.

    1. Re:This must be some other Android Auto... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. It literally is. The article never calls it Android Auto, so that misname is thanks to Slashdot. It's unclear what name it will have - I don't think Google has given it an official name other than calling it a generic Android for cars.

      The basic idea is that modern infotainment systems are basically tablets glued to the car, so instead of car manufacturers all building their own OS that never receives updates and has who knows what security holes, why not just use Android instead? And that's all this is - instead of running some random embedded OS, now the infotainment center runs Android, and I guess it can also run special apps designed for that use case. Or maybe it just runs the Android Auto-based UI for apps that support Android Auto. It's sort of unclear at present.

      But, yes, it literally is some other Android Auto.

      Also note that this is just the infotainment center. The rest of the car computers will presumably still be running whatever software the car manufacturer always uses.

  4. Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Local+ID10T · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Slower.

    More expensive.

    Made in China.

    pass....

    --
    "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
    1. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The Tesla Model 3 is way more expensive than 39,900 euros and it is made in the only country with a lower reputation in car build quality than China. I would pick the Polestar, if I had to choose between the too.

    2. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Octorian · · Score: 1, Insightful

      What's their high-speed roadtrip-oriented charging solution?

      I'm still waiting for anyone besides Tesla to seriously consider this issue as a critical part of the EV ecosystem.

    3. Re: Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Charging stations. What else?

    4. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Most car makers choose to NOT solve this issue like Tesla does: building a proprietary charging network. Instead they choose to rely on standard CCS charging stations that are already spreading all over Europe. So far there aren't many CCS fast charging stations (at 175 - 350 kW) comparable to Tesla's chargers in Europe, but the number is growing: over here there's already almost as many of them as there are Tesla chargers.

      The future is clearly a fast charging network relying on 1 or 2 standards, supporting - and open to - all auto brands. The Tesla stations over here are already fitted with CCS leads but are not available to non-Tesla drivers. This is an issue that will solve itself; Tesla is considering opening up those stations to other brands, and in some countries they may be forced to by law when operating in public areas, especially on highways. BWM would never get the permits to build gas stations exclusively for BWM drivers, and while Tesla was considered to be a special case being a pioneer with proprietary charging tech, that privilege will end at some point.

      Tesla clearly led the charge and built the new infrastructure needed for their cars from scratch, an admirable effort. But it is beyond silly at this stage to expect other auto makers to do the same.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    5. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Tesla is also opening a plant in China, and if they continue to increase US sales, they'll probably start building vehicles there for sale here instead of increasing production here.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    6. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Instead they choose to rely on standard CCS charging stations that are already spreading all over Europe.

      That should come in handy the next time I'm in Europe.

      I've never been to Europe.

    7. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Xi Jingping, is that you?

    8. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How often do you need to drive at 160 mph? My winter tires aren't even rated that high. Complaining about top speed is simple masturbation, near pointless.

    9. Re: Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Elon Musk, is that you?

    10. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by mattcasters · · Score: 2

      Why is it "beyond silly"? Are governments expected to pay for the infrastructure? Should we expect oil companies to pay for it? Perhaps classic car makers who have a vested interest in slow EV adoption so they can take their time and try to save their crumbling empires?

      No, the fact of the matter is that indeed other car manufacturers ARE investing in Ionity and other charging networks albeit at an extremely slow pace. Despite the fact that Tesla already has a large network across Europe, they're still expanding faster than any competitor. It's all marketing fluff and Tesla is pretty much the only game in town for high speed charging while traveling across the continent.

      --
      News about the Kettle Open Source project: on my blog
    11. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      This is a European car. In Europe the commercial charging networks are often better than Tesla's.

      Performance wise it may be a little slower, but it is better made and more luxurious. You also get Volvo service and many people are waiting for established brands that they trust.

      Also it's available, where as you can't just buy an M3 in Europe at the moment. If you have a reservation you might get one this year, maybe, otherwise no way.

      Don't worry, there is plenty of room for competition. Things are hotting up and it's already driving down battery prices faster than ever before, while pushing up the spec of the cars. I doubt Tesla would have cut their prices if it wasn't for the strong competition, so even if you don't buy a Polestar it helps you save money.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    12. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Worth pointing out that Nissan/Renault were building charging networks long before Tesla came along. Much of the infrastructure in western Europe was funded by Nissan/Renault. You can see the branding on the chargers.

      And this was long before the Model 3 was even announced, when Nissan and Renault were the only ones selling affordable EVs.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    13. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      Some oil companies are already putting up charging points at petrol stations. Just another selling point to get more people to frequent their forecourt stores. And of course it makes sense for automakers to invest in 3rd party charging networks and help speed deployment, but buying bonds or shares is not the same as "paying for it" and getting directly involved in the actual operation of these charging networks, like Tesla is doing.

      Tesla has around 450 charging locations (each w/ multiple charging points) across Europe. There are currently over 6000 CCS charging locations. Admittedly most of those are still the relatively slow 50kW variants, but now that we finally see EVs hitting the market for which superfast charging makes sense, it's expected that many of these locations will be upgraded to 175/350kW in the near future. Up till now, the Tesla car was the only game in town for long distance driving, and the market for fast chargers for other brands simply wasn't there, but with this Volvo as well as the new long range models from Hyundai, BMW, VW, Jaguar and others, that's going to change.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    14. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also it's available, where as you can't just buy an M3 in Europe at the moment

      Holy shit, you're right! Or maybe the ghost of Steve Jobs must have moved into your attic, along with his reality distortion field... From TFS:
              "Pre-orders are open now, and production begins next year in China"

      Also,

      it is better made and more luxurious. You also get Volvo service and many people are waiting for established brands that they trust.

      Uh, did you miss the part about where it'll be made in China, by the new owner of Volvo? That instantly nullifies pretty much everything you are so hot about there. Maybe you've already forgotten what happened to Saab when they got a new owner?

    15. Re:Tesla Model 3 competitor? by Thumper_SVX · · Score: 3, Informative

      Uh, did you miss the part about where it'll be made in China, by the new owner of Volvo? That instantly nullifies pretty much everything you are so hot about there. Maybe you've already forgotten what happened to Saab when they got a new owner?

      Uh... Volvo hasn't been an independent company in decades and Geely aren't new; they've owned Volvo since 2010.

      And Saab were bought by GM who mismanaged the entire lineup. Instead of allowing Saab to continue to engineer and innovate their platforms they strongarmed Saab into using GM's own platforms. Then when that didn't work they tried OEMing a Subaru. Truth is Saab was dead before GM ever entered the picture; the GM purchase was ostensibly to save the already ailing manufacturer. And I write all this as an ex Saab owner and lover... they had good cars but shit marketing and after the GM buy the cars just took a nosedive in quality.

  5. Geely by mentil · · Score: 1, Informative

    Given it's made by a Chinese-owned company, perhaps they should've named it the Prolestar.
    Too bad it costs $45k to start, not many proles can actually afford it. The base $35k Tesla Model 3 just launched today with 55 fewer miles of range than the Polestar, which IMO is bigger news.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
    1. Re:Geely by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      which IMO is bigger news.

      Why? Cheaper poorer range cars have always been available. The only reason it would qualify as news over a truly new entrant is due to how long people have had to wait for Tesla.

      Tesla's original goal was to change the world. Having yet another option coming to market is bigger news than an iterative release Tesla has been promising for months.

    2. Re:Geely by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Wut? There is no viable battery powered car sub-30k. For the masses, 15k and 150-200 miles is your target

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    3. Re:Geely by rtb61 · · Score: 2

      Volvo cars is a Chinese company (you are who you are owned by when it comes to corporations), so it is hardly surprising it is made in China. What that Chinese company is of course doing is trading on the European Brand of Volvo to pump up the profit margins, so likely to be well overly brand monetised and under performing. Nothing to do with China, just the way modern corporations and their marketing agencies work, bullshit and profits first and everything else optional even adhering to the law if the penalties are less than the profits because the executives who do it suffer NO penalties.

      I personally think, they will come a cropper, playing European car when it is actually a Chinese car, the internet is becoming very unforgiving of corporate bullshit. Better to have gone with Volvo China but then why buy a dying brand.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    4. Re:Geely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Given it's made by a Chinese-owned company, perhaps they should've named it the Prolestar.
      Too bad it costs $45k to start, not many proles can actually afford it. The base $35k Tesla Model 3 just launched today with 55 fewer miles of range than the Polestar, which IMO is bigger news.

      Totally unnecessary dig at China. No English speaking country has a wealth distribution curve worth bragging about, even if better overall, and as far as absolute numbers go, Chinese upper class is a fuckton of people still. That’s why fair competition between Chinese and American business is so important, we really want a piece of that market.

    5. Re:Geely by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Informative

      The Renault Zoe is around €26,000 ex VAT, with a range of 300+ km. The Hyundai Ioniq is around the same price with slightly less range. There are plenty of EV's for a lot less money, but with considerably less range.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    6. Re:Geely by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Nobody cares where anything is made any more, since everything is made in China, and because nobody feels cared for by their governments. Might as well just get theirs before the whole thing catches on fire, or slides into the sea. All people care about is whether the good are any good. China has gotten to the point where they can build a decent car if they try hard enough, so there's no reason why these vehicles can't be successful.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    7. Re:Geely by dwater · · Score: 1

      TBH, I don't even 'get' the 'Prolestar' thing...what is he getting at?

      --
      Max.
    8. Re:Geely by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      It was designed and developed by Volvo in Europe. It's like an iPhone - it may be made in China but most people would say it's a western product, with Volvo quality and support networks.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    9. Re:Geely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      TBH, I don't even 'get' the 'Prolestar' thing...what is he getting at?

      Prole = Proletarian, I think.

    10. Re:Geely by Thumper_SVX · · Score: 1

      Geely have owned Volvo since 2010... I'm not seeing this lack of faith in the West in Volvo that you're predicting.

    11. Re:Geely by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      And quite critically viable enough that until a couple of weeks ago when Model 3s started selling in Europe they were the most popular EVs on the market far outselling the Model S and Model X. Time will tell if the Model 3's EU success is due to good honeymoon sales or if it actually sustains it's Q1 position in the longer term, I'm thinking it's a bit of both and the Zoe finally has some competition in Europe, rather than the other way around.

  6. Adverts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    And how many adverts will you need to sit through before the car will actually move ?

    "We are unable to compute the shortest route, please accept the route past 7 of out advertisers, we have told them you are coming"

  7. Re:All I know is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's not a self-driving vehicle.

  8. No longer boxy, but good. by scdeimos · · Score: 1

    Volvo used to be boxy, but good. Now they've got a relatively clean and nice looking dash - with a frigging Android tablet glued in front. What an ugly installation.

  9. This needs over ten years of Android updates by ITRambo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Without ten years or more of Android updates this is a complete waste of time. Unless it can be flashed to a different, newer system, the resale value will be low. I can see buying a car that I'll send to e-waste in three years.

    1. Re:This needs over ten years of Android updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Without ten years or more of Android updates this is a complete waste of time. Unless it can be flashed to a different, newer system, the resale value will be low.

      Exactly!

    2. Re:This needs over ten years of Android updates by sad_ · · Score: 1

      just forget about owning a car in the future, that is something that will disappear soon.
      they want you to rent/lease a car, not buy it. when the lease/rent is over, replace with a newer model that will be available by then.
      it also comes with android-auto build in, so if you want privacy this is also not the car for you (but see the last paragraph of tfa, almost all other brands will be releasing android-auto cars very soon).

      it's a sad state of affairs, because people who care about ownership, right to repair and privacy will cling on to 'old' cars, but there is a great chance that you will be punished by your gov to hold on to an old car for 'environmental' reasons.

      all to say, that for cars like this, 10 years worth of updates won't be needed.

      --
      On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
    3. Re:This needs over ten years of Android updates by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You can mirror your phone screen if you really must have the latest version. But that's missing the point here.

      Normally you would get a fixed manufacturer developed system. Maybe some map updates. No choice of what app you want to use for navigation.

      Now you have live maps with endless free updates, a choice of apps and all the functionality you had before. Even if it never gets updated you can keep using it as-is.

      Updates aren't always that great anyway. Lots of bitching and moaning about Tesla gimping stuff that people liked but which turned out to be dangerous or not work properly.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:This needs over ten years of Android updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The electric car that fully succeeds will be running QNX.

  10. maintenance alerts. or more like car is limp mode by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    maintenance alerts. or more like car is limp mode go to dealer NOW!

  11. Giving Google that level of access to your vehicle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're a braver man than I.

  12. Re:All I know is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sure you will, tough guy.

  13. Google-powered? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    So instead of charging it, you just search furiously? Or maybe the energy for propulsion comes from the cloud. 1.21 gigawatts, right?

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Google-powered? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      1.21 Googlewatts.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  14. Polecat? by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    Maybe they will call the sport model the polecat and give it a white rally stripe. Eh Pepe?

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  15. smelling accelerated depreciation here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    when owners figure out that the Android version won't be updated after 7 years.

    The 800 pound gorilla in the room is how much do car manufacturers have to support all of the software on a 10+ year old car?

    I expect that when I finally buy a new non- luxury car, it will be supported with software updates and have dealer sold new auto parts available for 15 years from date of purchase. A shorter time frame means the manufactures will control effective life of a vehicle via not releasing software updates or charging lots of money for scheduled maintenance just to update the software.

    Also, how will one have a classic car 20+ years old if the software bombs out and is unusable after 15 years?

    1. Re:smelling accelerated depreciation here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      when owners figure out that the Android version won't be updated after 7 years.

      The 800 pound gorilla in the room is how much do car manufacturers have to support all of the software on a 10+ year old car?

      I expect that when I finally buy a new non- luxury car, it will be supported with software updates and have dealer sold new auto parts available for 15 years from date of purchase. A shorter time frame means the manufactures will control effective life of a vehicle via not releasing software updates or charging lots of money for scheduled maintenance just to update the software.

      Also, how will one have a classic car 20+ years old if the software bombs out and is unusable after 15 years?

      I think expecting any kind of support for a car that is 10+ years old is a bit ridiculous. A 15 year old car is basically ancient.

    2. Re: smelling accelerated depreciation here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > The 800 pound gorilla in the room

      Us that what we are now calling the elephant in the room?

    3. Re: smelling accelerated depreciation here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My truck (primary vehicle) is a 2003, with ~185k miles on it. Itâ(TM)s still in great shape, though about 15k overdue for service. I expect another 5 or more years out of it.

    4. Re:smelling accelerated depreciation here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is dealer software updates.

      My brother has a vehicle with a nav system. In order to get software updates he has to take it in to the dealer at considerable expense. Really it only needs map updates which should be a user update, no dealer involvement at all. But no, the dealer wants their cut.

  16. Re: maintenance alerts. or more like car is limp m by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Buy a BSR PPC diagnostic tool and clear all those weird Volvo codes yourself without paying the stealership. Most standard code readers only clear the engine control module. The BSR reads/clears all Volvo modules.

  17. Kinda close? by duke_cheetah2003 · · Score: 1

    The name of this vehicle ... just too close to Pornstar.

  18. Volt Saver Loop by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    Volvo polestar anagrams

    Love slot vapor
    Volts A Love Pro
    Volt Saver Loop

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  19. That is a terrible name by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    "Polestar" has to be among the worst car names I have ever heard. The car doesn't look that great either.

    And it's not even out until 2020, by which time Tesla will probably have a hovering model, or one that includes the rocket engine package for the same price.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:That is a terrible name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Polestar" has to be among the worst car names I have ever heard.

      Well maybe, but it isn't a new name. Volvo (also a terrible name, unless you think Penus is a good name) has been using Polestar for a while.

    2. Re:That is a terrible name by dwater · · Score: 1

      I quite like the name...what do you have against it?

      I quite like the look too, from what I've seen so far, and, no, I don't like the look of Teslas, though I admire the objective (ie to push the industry away from fossil fuels).

      2020? That's next year, right? Tesla will /probably/ have a hovering model? LOL, right.

      Well, that's statics for you...

      --
      Max.
    3. Re:That is a terrible name by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      I quite like the name...what do you have against it?

      It just sounds wrong.

      And if you consider the word from different angles, it either brings up strippers or porn stars. Not that I have anything against either, but you don't name products "Porn Star 8000" unless they are meant for sexual purposes.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    4. Re:That is a terrible name by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      Polaris? The North Star?

      Somebody must think those are sexual positions, eh?

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  20. another (*&^ touchscreen on an electric car... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    another (*&^ touchscreen on an electric car....

    talk about them wanting to make them frustrating as shit to drive.... give us fucking knobs and tactile buttons damn it.

  21. A tracking device that has wheels by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    Once again google know where you go.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    1. Re:A tracking device that has wheels by Jeremi · · Score: 2

      Google know where you go anyway, your cell phone tell it.

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    2. Re:A tracking device that has wheels by bigtech · · Score: 1

      As does your phone carrier.

  22. My first and second house cost $68k by guruevi · · Score: 0

    How do you even pay that kind of car off? Why are there no affordable "green" options if it's so much cleaner (less and cheaper energy should translate to lower cost) to produce in solar powered, non-carbon factories.

    Why aren't left wing billionaires subsidizing these for us in the 99% if the world will end in 15 years if we don't.

    --
    Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    1. Re:My first and second house cost $68k by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Let me guess, you've used the phrase "and this used to all be orange groves..." more than once and very recently, right? Tell us how much a loaf of bread used to cost grandpa!

    2. Re:My first and second house cost $68k by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 1

      How much is that $68k in today's dollars? How much did your first car set you back? And how much were you making? Also, EVs are expensive to buy but very cheap to run.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    3. Re:My first and second house cost $68k by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      What difference does it make what I made back then? I have a mortgage and kids now.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    4. Re:My first and second house cost $68k by guruevi · · Score: 1

      This was in the last 5-10 years.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  23. Oh boy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Canâ(TM)t wait until google decide you no longer need brakes. Lol.

  24. So we're powering cars with search engines now? by istartedi · · Score: 3, Funny

    I liked it better when my horse was powered by Apache.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  25. Re:All I know is by Astroglide++Addict · · Score: 0

    Heh, did "polestar" conjure up images of a filthy stripper to anyone else?

  26. Fuck China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No way I'm buying a chinesium piece of shit.

  27. Designed in Göteborg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is still designed in Göteborg. The factory in Torslanda is still churning out new Volvos.

  28. The Volvo Polestar 2 Is the First Google-Powered, by grep+-v+'.*'+* · · Score: 1
    Whaaaaoooow -- that's a game changer right there -- the more searches you do, the further you go! Google, what's the weather? Google, how far away is my destination? Google, at what time will we arrive? Google, are we there yet? Google, are we there yet? Google, are we there yet? Google, are we there yet?

    Christ, it's like we're training people to be little kids.

    Android will also be updatable, meaning Polestar and Google can push over-the-air software updates to improve the car's functions long after it's sold.

    Quick, tell me another one! This has worked out so well with phones.

    And I thought that paying $9.95 for an app was high:

    SALE! Take your windshield wipers literally to the next level, buy NOW!

    You seem to be breaking hard, would you like extra stopping power? Only $50 for each foot per second -- bonuses for multiples of 10. Today only!

    Would you like me to STOP always playing that annoying music that you hate? A monthly subscription is the low, low prince of only $29.95 -- think of the relief you'll feel! Too much? Half the volume for only half of the price: $14.95 per month!

    Your OS has been upgraded to the latest monthly release. You'll need to repurchase all functionality apps again so that they'll continue working.

    --
    If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
  29. Polyester Pole Star Porn Star by GodWasAnAlien · · Score: 1

    Fire marketing.

  30. Google Powered? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought it was an electric car....

  31. Re: The Volvo Polestar 2 Is the First Google-Power by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You have no idea how spot on you are. This is what EVERY company wants to do with literally every product. Want your milk extra cold, Buy sUpEr_Fr1dgEv01.a now!

  32. I want less Google by Kagetsuki · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I've gotten Google as much out of my life as I possibly can. No way I'm going to buy a car that's literally integrated with Google as a "feature".

  33. Polestar? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Interesting name. Does it do lap dances, and private VIP room dances?

  34. Hot air or bullshit ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So it's powered by hot air or bullshit ?

  35. classid by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    Classic capitalism.. This car has all the drawbacks of an EV with no advantages of an ICE, but we'll price it like the other EV on the market because we don't believe in selling more units and the customer shouldn't have a less expensive choice.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  36. Re:All I know is by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    My vehicle has Android Auto.. Does that mean my vehicle is "Google Powered"? It definitely means this isn't the first one.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  37. Eventually by virtig01 · · Score: 1

    The Tesla Model 3 is way more expensive than 39,900 euros

    ...and so is the Polestar.

    You don't even need to read TFA, it's right in the summary: "All this will eventually cost about 39,900 euros".

    Just like the Model 3 will eventually hit the $35,000 mark that was promised when it launched.

    1. Re:Eventually by dcw3 · · Score: 2

      Already is...
      https://www.bbc.com/news/busin...

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  38. Average age of cars on the road is 12 years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-cars-and-trucks-are-getting-older-2018-8

    The average age of cars on the road is 12 years. Car manufacturers support cars for well past 10 years now. Taking that away via not updating software is harming current and future car owners.

    From a pure software perspective 10 years is ancient, outside of mainframes.

    Would Boeing do the same thing for the 777 airliner? No, no customers would buy it if it was going to be abandoned zombie like after 5 years by Boeing.

  39. Powered by Google? by dcw3 · · Score: 1

    How many miles per search does it get?

    --
    Just another day in Paradise