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Polestar 2

Journal 11.2

It takes more than wind to wind test a car. To be exact, it takes a three-ton fan, a steel tunnel measuring 11 metres in diameter and 163 metres in length, a heat exchanger the size of a wall, 24 hours of computer simulations, innumerable six-hour shifts, and as much steam and liquid nitrogen smoke as needed to wind test a car.

Polestar 1 in a wind tunnel

Wind Tunnel

These wind tests are done to see how the car performs according to different criteria: contamination, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, climate comfort, energy efficiency, and internal environment. These criteria measure everything to do with wind, whether it’s the potential emissions caused by the material used to make the car’s interior, to the combination of rolling and air resistance which the car must overcome to move forward. The Polestar 1 has to undergo these tests, just like any other car.

Front of a Polestar 1 in a wind tunnel.
Fast Facts Total length (testing area): 74.55 m Total width (testing area): 29.90 m Air path centreline length: 165.30 m

There are numerous design touches that influence the aerodynamics of the Polestar 1, the most distinctive of which is the active rear spoiler. Deploying automatically once the car reaches 100 km/h, and retracting when the car goes below 70 km/h, the rear spoiler is an innovative design solution meant to optimise the Polestar 1’s performance by creating downforce on the rear axle, and is something that needs to be tested during these wind tunnel procedures. Another design feature that needs to be accounted for are the lower outer grilles. Placed in deep recesses in the lower front of the car, these grilles can be opened and closed in order to efficiently cool the batteries and other electrical components.

Polestar 1 in a wind tunnel
Big fan

These design features are tested under the watchful eye of Senior Analysis Engineer and Aerodynamics Ph.D. Lennert Sterken, and a team of wind tunnel personnel. “Of course, from an aerodynamics standpoint, we like the combination of a low roofline with an active rear spoiler” says Sterken of the Polestar 1.

From there, the Polestar 1 will make its way to the baking deserts of Arizona for further testing, as the wind tunnel does not provide all the conditions required for wind testing. It takes more than wind to wind test a car, and the Polestar 1 wind tunnel test was completed successfully. Stay tuned for Chapter Three, in which we detail the process that goes into dampers testing.

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Close-up of Polestar 2 MY24 grill with Polestar Engineered badge.

What is Polestar Engineered?

If you’ve ever seen a Polestar Engineered vehicle, you’ve probably noticed the badge – a subtle yet powerful emblem signifying that this is no ordinary car. That badge represents a commitment to enhancing performance and delivering an unparalleled driving experience through precision engineering. Born from Polestar’s roots in motorsport, Polestar Engineered is the culmination of years of research, testing, and passion, translating track performance into everyday driving.