Horsepower and acceleration figures tell only part of the performance story. But how does a car actually make its driver feel?
Polestar and researchers from the University of Oxford’s SDG Impact Lab set out to investigate, using two versions of the Polestar 4 at Sweden’s Gotland Ring circuit.
The pilot study monitored 12 drivers through heart-rate measurements, eye tracking, vehicle telemetry and interviews.
During dynamic driving, participants blinked less, their pupils dilated and they maintained longer gazes, indicating greater attentional engagement.
The 400kW Dual motor with Performance pack also delivered 32% higher peak acceleration and required 15% less steering effort than the 200kW Rear motor version during matched fast laps.
Drivers rated the Performance version more highly for driving dynamics and overall experience, although the small study was exploratory rather than conclusive.
Beyond outright speed, the findings pointed to the importance of confidence, control and trust in how drivers experience performance.
Watch the video to see how Polestar and Oxford researchers explored the human side of electric vehicle performance.
