Polestar demonstrated its commitment to performance by inviting automotive media to Circuit Mécaglisse near Montreal for a winter driving experience with the Polestar 4. The goal was to showcase how poised and fun the 544-horsepower electric crossover-coupe can be in slippery conditions.
The day included educational laps on studded tires, focusing on weight transfer and vehicle control with stability systems mostly disabled. The Polestar 4 proved predictable, with its all-wheel-drive system intelligently shuffling power and its steering providing clear feedback, even as the nearly 5,000-pound vehicle lost grip on ice.
Drivers practiced on skid pads, learning to maintain slides using throttle modulation rather than steering input. The core challenge was mastering the Scandinavian Flick on a downhill corner, a maneuver requiring patience to manage the electric powertrain's instant torque and the lack of engine noise for feedback.
The program also featured ride-alongs in the modified Polestar 4 Arctic Circle Edition, piloted by a Formula Drift pro using a hydraulic handbrake for dramatic, controlled slides. Throughout the event, the car remained consistent and forgiving.
Polestar's head of product identity explained that calibrating a car to behave well on ice ensures predictable and forgiving limits on dry pavement. The experience proved the Polestar 4 offers engaging, driver-focused dynamics, signaling a bright future for enthusiast-oriented electric vehicles, even in winter.