2026 Polestar 3 Gets 800V Architecture Update But Receives a Driving Range Drop for Some Variants

The 2026 Polestar 3 SUV is set to arrive with an extensive list of updates, including new 800V electric architecture, a new rear electric motor with higher power outputs, and increased software processing power. However, WLTP driving ranges have decreased in some variants, and torque figures have decreased across the range.  

With the arrival of 800V electric architecture, the Polestar 3 now supports 350kW DC charging – up from 250kW – allowing 10 to 80 per cent charges to be completed in as little as 22 minutes, compared to the pre-upgrade Polestar 3’s 30 minutes. 

Driving dynamics have also reportedly improved with the update, with updated anti-roll bars and steering software. 

Power and torque output specs have changed across the range on account of the Polestar 3’s new rear electric motor, now developed in-house, with more power across the range but less torque. 

The Rear Motor variant – formerly known as the Long Range Single Motor – has seen a small torque decrease from 490Nm to 480Nm, but a power bump from 220kW to 245kW.

Now badged as the Dual Motor, rather than the Long Range Dual Motor, the mid-spec variant now produces 400kW and 740Nm, compared to the previous output specs of 360kW and 840Nm. 

Finally, the Performance variant – previously sold as the Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack – produces 500kW and 870Nm compared to the pre-update version’s 380kW and 910Nm. 

Acceleration times have improved across the board. 

The Rear Motor variant now achieves 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds compared to 7.8. The Dual Motor has improved its time by three tenths, now clocking 4.7 seconds, while the Performance has cut eight tenths of a second off its run, now at 3.9 seconds. 

Like its Polestar 2 stablemate, dual motor variants of the Polestar 3 can now disconnect the front motor when it’s not in use.   

Battery capacities have decreased across the range, with the 111kWh lithium-ion battery swapped out for a 92kWh battery in the Rear motor variant and a 106kWh battery featured in the Dual motor and Performance variants. 

While WLTP efficiency has increased by 6% according to Polestar, the driving ranges in the Rear Motor and Dual Motor variants have actually decreased compared to their predecessors. 

The Rear Motor variant achieves 604km of range on the WLTP cycle, compared to the pre-update equivalent’s 706km, while range in the Dual Motor variant has decreased by 1km from 636km to 635km. 

However, the Performance model’s range has increased from 567km to 593km. 

Equipped with a new processing chip from NVIDIA managing its active safety systems, battery, and sensors, the Polestar 3 has also seen an eightfold increase in processing power. Not only will this be available with the 2026 update, but the new processor will also be available as a complimentary retrofit for existing Polestar 3 examples. 

The Polestar 3’s options packs have also been revised.

Active air suspension is now an option in the Dual motor variant. The new Climate pack adds heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated wiper blades, while the new Prime pack bundles the features from the Pilot, Plus and Climate packs along with adding rear privacy glass. 

A Bowers & Wilkins sound system, complete with headrest speakers and active road noise cancelling, is also available as both a standalone option and with the Plus pack.

Minor interior tweaks are also included in the list of updates, including a new Storm exterior colour, upgraded interior upholstery, and new door graphics.  

The new updates will be rolled out first in the UK market, with arrivals in other markets expected at a later date. However, plans to introduce those updates in Australia are yet to be officially finalised.