Polestar and researchers from the University of Oxford conducted a joint study to measure how drivers physically perceive vehicle acceleration and power. Testing 2 versions of the electric Polestar 4 on a track in Sweden, the team monitored vehicle telemetry and driver biometric responses across high speed laps. The initial findings come from an experimental group of 12 participants.
The test compared a single motor rear wheel drive model outputting 268 hp against an all wheel drive Performance pack model delivering 544 hp. Telemetry logs showed that the 544 hp variant produced 32% greater peak acceleration and lowered required steering effort by 15%. Both vehicles completed their laps at roughly the identical overall pace.
Sensors tracked eye movements, blink rates, and heart rates throughout each session. Drivers operating the 544 hp car blinked less frequently, showed dilated pupils, and held their gaze on fixed points ahead for longer durations. Researchers attributed these physiological reactions to elevated visual focus during sharp bursts of speed.
Post run questionnaires revealed higher subjective scores for the faster setup. Drivers rated the acceleration feel at 89.2 out of 100 for the 544 hp model compared to 67.7 for the 268 hp version, while overall vehicle impression reached 93 points versus 77.9 points. Test drivers described the physical sensation as riding a controlled roller coaster. Researchers noted that confirming these preliminary findings will require testing across a larger sample size.
