Performance Unleashed: Why the Polestar 3 Performance Pack Is Built for the PCH

The Polestar 3 with the Performance Pack turns an already capable luxury electric SUV into a canyon-and-coast machine, pairing a punchy dual-motor setup (up to 517 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque) with standard Brembo brakes and a sharper chassis setup. For Los Angeles drivers who split their week between the 405 and the Pacific Coast Highway, that means instant response off a stoplight, composed control through canyon switchbacks, and confident stopping power on long descents. If you want to feel it for yourself, explore the current Polestar lineup and book a drive at Polestar Los Angeles.

The appeal here is simple: this is the version of the Polestar 3 built for drivers who want the coast road to be the best part of the day, not just the commute home.

Step up to the Long Range Dual Motor with Performance Pack and the flagship electric SUV sheds any hint of softness. The drivetrain climbs to up to 517 horsepower and 671 lb-ft of torque, good for 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, delivering the kind of instant, seamless acceleration that only an electric powertrain can produce. There is no turbo lag and no downshift hunting, just immediate torque the moment you ask for it. On a merge onto the 10 or a passing move on Highway 1, that responsiveness is not a party trick, it is real-world confidence.

Beyond raw output, the Performance Pack is about control. The dual-motor Polestar 3's dual-chamber active air suspension adapts to sensor input 500 times a second, computer-controlled torque vectoring actively sends power to the wheel with more grip, and the available 22-inch forged Performance wheels wear custom-developed Pirelli P Zero tires. Together they make sure the extra power translates into cornering composure rather than drama. The result is a large, luxurious SUV that shrinks around you on a twisty road.

Big power means nothing without big stopping ability, and this is where the Polestar 3' Brembo brakes earn their keep. High-performance Brembo hardware, with ventilated discs and four-piston aluminum front calipers, is standard on every Polestar 3, and the Performance Pack dresses the calipers in Polestar's signature Swedish gold. Brembo is a name serious drivers recognize, engineered for quick response and consistent performance at any temperature.

That matters more than you might think in Southern California. A run down Latigo Canyon or a long grade back toward the coast asks a lot of any braking system, especially in a heavier electric SUV. Brembo hardware, working alongside the Polestar's regenerative braking, gives you strong, repeatable stops without the spongy, overheated feel that plagues lesser setups after a spirited descent. You brake later, hold your line, and stay in command.​

Regenerative braking also does quiet, everyday work: it recaptures energy every time you lift off the accelerator, which helps extend range and reduces wear on the friction brakes over time. It is performance and efficiency pulling in the same direction.

Few places on earth show off a performance EV the way greater Los Angeles does. The Pacific Coast Highway offers open, sweeping curves with the ocean on one shoulder. The Santa Monica Mountains hand you tight, technical switchbacks a few minutes from Malibu. And the daily grind of city traffic makes the Polestar 3 smooth, silent low-speed manners a genuine relief.

The Performance Pack car is tuned to handle all three. Instant torque makes stop-and-go traffic effortless. The active air suspension keeps the body flat and predictable through canyon corners. And the low, battery-in-the-floor center of gravity gives the SUV a planted, hunkered-down feel that belies its size. These are public roads, of course: the Polestar 3 is at its best when you are relaxed, within the limits, and in control. Want more on this exact use case? Our team broke down the experience in detail in Why the Polestar 3 Is Your Ultimate Summer Companion for California Canyon Carving.

The smartest part of choosing the Performance Pack is what you do not give up. This is still a full-size luxury EV SUV with a spacious five-seat cabin, Scandinavian design, sustainable interior materials, and the everyday range to handle California road trips. You get the weekend toy and the family hauler in one vehicle.

If you are cross-shopping the broader Polestar range before you commit, our Polestar 3 vs. Polestar 4 comparison lays out how body style, layout, and driving character differ between the two models, so you can be sure the Performance-focused Polestar 3 is the right fit before you drive.

High-performance driving asks more of a vehicle, and the good news is that an EV is refreshingly low-maintenance to keep sharp. There are no oil changes or spark plugs to worry about, but tires, brakes, suspension components, and software still benefit from expert attention, especially if you drive hard on the canyons. Our Polestar-trained technicians at the Polestar Los Angeles service center know these cars inside out, and our parts and accessories team can source exactly what your vehicle needs.

Specs and stories only go so far. The Polestar 3 with the Performance Pack is a car you have to feel, from the shove of instant torque to the reassuring bite of the Brembo brakes on a downhill sweeper. See what fits your budget with our payment calculator or review financing options, then book a test drive or contact Polestar Los Angeles today and take the PCH the way it was meant to be driven.