The first-ever Polestar Day event took place in Los Angeles and featured all of the company’s models for the first time. Attendees had the opportunity to test drive the 2024 Polestar 2 and experience ride-alongs in the Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 prototypes driven by the company’s engineers and experts. The conceptual Polestar 6, set to be an electric roadster in the future, was also on display. However, the spotlight was on the Polestar 5, which was revealed without any camouflage.
This unveiling has been highly anticipated, especially since the Precept concept gave a first look at the Porsche Taycan rival back in February 2020. Over the past four years, the Volvo subsidiary has teased the car with camouflaged prototypes, including a disguised vehicle that took on the famous Goodwood hill earlier this year. Now, the camouflage has been removed, but the car won’t be available for purchase until 2025.
According to Maximilian Missoni, head of Polestar design, the design of the new 2023 Polestar 4 was influenced by the focus on maximum range. One notable design choice is the absence of a rear window, which is usually located in the rear roof area to provide structural strength. The positioning of the header rail, which adds rigidity to the vehicle, was a crucial factor in shaping the design.
The challenge was to find the optimal position for the rail. Lowering it too much would impede headroom, while keeping it high would affect aerodynamics and performance. The solution Polestar came up with for the Polestar 4 is to lower the header and move it behind the rear passengers’ heads. This positions the header rail where the rear window would typically be, and a roof-mounted camera replaces the rear glass for rear visibility. The Polestar 4 has a drag coefficient of 0.269, whereas the Tesla Model S, for comparison, has a drag coefficient of 0.208.
Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar and former design head at Volvo, played a significant role in influencing the design of the Polestar 4. Ingenlath humorously mentioned that more conservative car makers would still be testing the idea with customer clinics. He emphasized that true design leaders do not need to seek approval through market testing.
The Polestar 4 crossover measures just under five meters in length and features a 102kWh battery pack (with 94kWh of usable capacity). It is available with either a single-motor configuration offering 268bhp or a dual-motor model with 537bhp. Ingenlath expressed his satisfaction with the Polestar 4, stating that it complements the Polestar 3 and covers the premium SUV segment effectively.
The Polestar 5 is an electric performance four-door GT that aims to change the status quo of the EV industry.
The car features an 800 Volt architecture, dual electric motors, 884 horsepower, 663 pound-feet of torque, and an estimated range of 300 miles.
Polestar’s design philosophy focuses on creating a production car that is both innovative and practical, prioritizing safety, comfort, performance, and aerodynamics.
The Polestar 5 is an electric performance four-door GT nearing production. Its launch has been much anticipated, and just recently the most recent prototype made an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, held in West Sussex, England. More than being just another electric car, the Polestar 5 is looking to change the status quo of the EV industry. This futuristic four-door GT will be a competitive force in the battery electric vehicle (BEV) segment once it hits the market in 2024. Based on the Precept concept car, it has big shoes to fill and a mission to spearhead Polestar’s future in the BEV segment.
Regarding the Precept, the Swedish automotive brand had this to say:
The automotive industry is facing pressing questions about design and environmental impact. Precept aims to answer these questions, showing our commitment to sustainable and engaging electric mobility.
The precept is undergoing a journey from a concept car to the Polestar 5. It’s a long and challenging process that motivates Polestar’s team of designers and engineers to continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved when you set out to create a new BEV from the ground up, without even looking at the competition to draw inspiration from. And this design approach was completely intentional. Polestar’s designers did not want to be influenced or contaminated by a bias of having to follow suit with what is already on the market.
All information regarding technical specifications and features of the Polestar 5 we are provided by the Polestar Company. Its development process has been documented and used as an inspiration to write this article.
A concept car often works as a halo car for the developing team. They feature new ideas regarding design and technology and often give us a glimpse of the direction the company is moving toward. When Polestar’s design team set out to work on a concept, they could shoot for the moon and really push the boundaries of what might be possible to bring into a production model. The Polestar 5 idea was born from the Precept concept car. Their goal was to create something that was innovative and exciting enough, and yet, at the same time, sufficiently grounded so as to not disappoint as a practical, everyday means of transportation.
One would be hard-pressed to consider the Polestar 5 a simple everyday commuter, however. The car features a new Polestar powertrain that features an 800 Volt architecture and produces a healthy amount of power and torque. With an estimated starting price of around $100,000, the Polestar 5 needs to really bring in the goods in order to grab a significant share of the segment.
Polestar 5 Performance Specs And Price
Powertrain
Dual electric motors
Output
884 horsepower
Torque
663 pound-feet
Range
300 miles
MSRP
$100,000 (est.)
Polestar set out to build a real car from the very beginning. They’ve walked a fine line between what would be a designer’s dream, which might not be too practical for the real world, and what needed to be there physically so that people who interact with it won’t feel alienated and disconnected from what was presented to them. A production car, after all, is made for the real world, and they have to be produced in with volume in mind, they have to be safe, and they have to deliver both comfort and performance. That is at the core of Polestar’s design philosophy, and this is the car that is setting up the future of the brand, its design language, and technology for the upcoming years.
From the computer screens and renderings, Polestar’s team built a real-size clay model of the car. The importance of the clay model in the development process of the car is that with it, you can quickly make changes if something doesn’t quite work out in the physical world as originally intended. Unlike doing it in wood for instance, with clay you have a quick process to be able to change and see a completely different model if needed. Polestar finds this process So useful that they plan on having over 20 different clay models that will incorporate thousands of little adjustments before the design of the car is finally complete.
At the beginning of the design process, the exterior designer receives a brief from the head of design. This is what will guide and describe the overall style of the car. The Polestar 5 exterior design has a bold, sporty stance that exudes finesse and luxury. The design team tried to minimize the height of the car and create a look that packs everything together nicely. Requirements from other departments also influenced the design because the car needs to be able to work well as far as safety, comfort, performance, and practicality are concerned.
The exterior design has to be aerodynamic, for example. Aerodynamics is extremely important in electrical vehicles, especially when it comes to energy consumption. The aerodynamics team came in, doing their best to stay true to what was envisioned for the car while minimizing wind vortexes and other inefficient air flow areas around the body of the car, as this translates to a lot of wasted energy and impact the performance and range of the car. To that end, wind tunnel tests are done to study the effects of the wind on the car. After extensive testing in the wind tunnel, that particular team gathers data and provides feedback to the design and engineering team. With that hard data available, Polestar’s designers and engineers can then decide on the cost-benefit analysis of changing the shape of the car even further, or not, in order to accommodate efficiency over aesthetics.
One of the challenges to realizing the interior of a concept car into the interior of a production car is the fact that with a concept, designers are free from a lot of real-world limitations. They don’t have to think about seat belt travel, knee room, moving seats, ducting, electronics, and other mundane aspects of an automobile. They get to express their creativity and design freely, within the boundaries of a certain brief. It falls to the engineers, while considering that wider spectrum of what was originally intended, to make things work as they should both inside and out of the vehicle.
The interior designers are tasked with proposing various ideas and concepts in order to make things fit in into the original design concept of the car. This is a very iterative process that has a lot of trial and error. It’s a constant back-and-forth negotiation and cooperation between several areas of the company, though every design decision has to take into account technical and safety requirements.
The Swedish School of textiles in Boras, Sweden was tasked with finding the right materials for the interior of the Polestar 5. From this start, Polestar wanted to bring something new and innovative unlike anything else out there in the industry. The materials introduced in the Precept are being carried over to the Polestar 5, but not without a fair bit of challenge. Maria Uggla the color and material design manager at Polestar is captaining the effort of bringing these unique materials into the Polestar 5. They are using a new tailored knit technique to create upholstery, never before used in the automotive industry. The interior colors and materials are also connected, and influenced by, the car’s overall design.
In a bold move to showcase to the world what it has been cooking in Sweden, Polestar took a prototype to the Goodwood Festival of Speed where lots of eyes were checking out if the car measured up to what had been promised and expected from Polestar. There is always a risk involved in showing an early development vehicle to a lot of people in a less controllable setting. Mercedes, for instance, had a little mishap with the new AMG GT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Polestar decided to do it anyway, precisely because of the risks. It’s part of the excitement of the whole process, And luckily everything went really well. Being that this is not an event that is traditionally used as part of vehicle development, Polestar felt it had a unique opportunity to really test out how the car would behave in a myriad of different situations, be it on its famous hill climb, on corners or high-speed straights, and pretty much everything the road could throw at it. This allowed the engineers from the vehicle dynamics team to really work on the chassis of the Polestar 5. The steering, the suspension, the tires, and all other things concerned. There was a lot of excitement in the event but what’s most important, there is also a lot of it in the product.
Polestar has revealed its latest creation, the Synergy electric fantasy supercar, at the IAA Mobility 2023 event in Munich. This stunning vehicle brings to life three winning designs from the recent Polestar Design Contest.
Over 600 entries were submitted to the competition, and the winning designs were chosen for their combination of performance-focused experience and sustainable technical innovation. The Polestar Synergy is the result of a six-month collaboration between the winners and the Polestar Design team, merging three distinct dreams into one cohesive reality.
The final design of the fantasy supercar draws inspiration from nature and features a unique single-seat floating interior design with a strong emphasis on control. Standing at 179.5 inches long and 42.1 inches tall, this vehicle showcases dramatic proportions and never-before-seen details that truly capture the essence of a supercar.
The two winning exterior designers, Devashish Deshmukh and Swapnil Desai, are based in Paris, France, while the interior designer, Yingxiang Li, is located in China.
Deshmukh’s exterior design draws inspiration from the hollowed-out volumes found in a hammerhead shark’s body, while Desai’s design focuses on emotional durability paired with technical upgradability and materials that age gracefully over time.
The interior of the Polestar Synergy features a performance-oriented seating position that offers a new experience centered around “floating comfort and control.”
During the IAA 2023 event, the Polestar Synergy concept will be showcased at the Polestar Space in Munich. Following its debut, the 1:1 scale model will be shipped to the US, where it will tour as a featured model at the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in El Segundo, California, starting from October 7, 2023. It will also make appearances at various Polestar locations across the country.
“The exposure that student designers receive at the start of their careers is rarely seen. The Polestar Design Community on Instagram has done an excellent job of amplifying this, and it has been further enhanced this year through the 1:1 scale model and its planned global tour of Polestar locations,” said Maximillian Missoni, Polestar’s Head of Design.
In addition to their latest creation, Polestar has announced a partnership with Mattel’s brand, Hot Wheels. The next Polestar Design Contest will take inspiration from designs in Hot Wheels’ 55-year history and future Polestar production vehicles will be immortalized as Hot Wheels and Matchbox collectibles.
Polestar is planning to introduce Chauffeur, its self-driving technology, to the Polestar 4 electric SUV. Although no specific timeline has been provided, the release of Chauffeur will follow the launch of the EV. Similar to other advanced driver assistance systems, it is likely that Chauffeur will be an optional upgrade and will come at an extra cost. For example, Tesla’s “full self-driving” suite is priced at an additional $15,000, while Ford offers its BlueCruise functionality for $2,100 for three years if selected at the time of vehicle purchase.
On the other hand, the Polestar 3 electric SUV, which is scheduled to start deliveries in 2024, will feature ADAS and autonomous driving technology. Interestingly, the Polestar 3 will not rely on MobileEye’s technology but instead use Luminar sensors, thanks to Volvo’s investment in the LIDAR startup.
The Polestar 4 will be the most powerful vehicle in Polestar’s lineup. The long-range dual-motor version of the car is expected to have a motor with 544 horsepower and 506 lb-ft of torque. It boasts a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a range of 438 miles on a single charge. In addition, the Polestar 4 supports 200kW fast charging, features a 15.4-inch central display, and has a unique design element using a camera instead of a rear glass window.
Available for sale through Polestar Detroit, this highly sought-after 2021 Polestar 1 is unique in many ways. Whether you’re admiring its never-before-titled status with MSO or the fact that it’s never been privately owned, there’s no denying that the Polestar 1 is a gem in the automotive world.
When it comes to rarity, the 2021 Polestar 1 stands in a league of its own. With fewer than 200 units ever making their way to the United States, owning one is a privilege. This car is not just a vehicle; it’s the halo car for Volvo’s performance-EV subsidiary, Polestar. And when you consider the limited production run of only 500 units worldwide each year, the exclusivity becomes even more apparent. This is a car that makes a statement.
But it’s not just the rarity that makes the Polestar 1 special. Its design is a visual treat. Elegant and strikingly beautiful, it’s one of the prettiest plug-in hybrids available. The powertrain is no less impressive, with a turbo- and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 375 horsepower for the front wheels. Add to that dual electric motors producing 114 horsepower each for the rear wheels, and you’re looking at a total system output of 619 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
12 Photos
The eight-speed automatic transmission ensures smooth gear shifts, making every drive an experience to remember. The Polestar 1 doesn’t just look good; it performs like a dream.
The driving experience in the Polestar 1 is nothing short of spectacular. The electronically controlled suspension system offers optimal handling and comfort, while the torque-vectoring rear differential enhances agility and cornering capabilities. The 21-inch Pirelli P Zero tires ensure excellent traction and grip, and the Akebono-sourced brakes provide the kind of stopping power that inspires confidence.
This is a car that doesn’t just take you from point A to point B; it makes every journey an exhilarating adventure.
With its limited availability, stunning design, and heart-pounding performance, it’s a highly desirable choice for automotive enthusiasts. If you’re looking to own a piece of automotive history, this is your chance. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to own a Polestar 1 through Polestar Detroit.
The automotive industry’s shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) is gaining momentum, and Polestar is leading the charge towards a sustainable future. With the upcoming Polestar 5, the brand is showcasing its commitment to pushing the boundaries of EV technology and design. The Polestar 5 is positioned to challenge the Porsche Taycan, offering impressive power figures that outshine its renowned competitor.
In terms of performance, the Polestar 5 features a dual-motor electric powertrain that delivers an impressive 884 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the Porsche Taycan Turbo S by approximately 120 horsepower. While the Taycan does have an advantage in torque, the Polestar 5 promises a thrilling driving experience like no other. In terms of design, the Polestar 5 draws inspiration from the captivating Precept concept, featuring a sleek and captivating design language that is sure to turn heads. Built on a bonded aluminum chassis, the Polestar 5 offers class-leading dynamics, rigidity, and safety features for an exhilarating yet secure driving experience.
Polestar has ambitious plans for the future, with a projected annual sales target of 290,000 units by 2025. This positions Polestar as a significant player in the EV market and showcases their commitment to the evolution of sustainable mobility.
The All-New Polestar 5 Is Challenging The Porsche Taycan
The Polestar 5 boasts 884 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque.
This new model outperforms current Porsche Taycan vehicles.
With the upcoming release of the Polestar 5, many believe it has the potential to outsell and outshine the Porsche Taycan. The Polestar 5 represents a significant advancement for the brand with its sleek design, powerful features, and redefined body. One of its most notable upgrades is the dual-motor electric powertrain, which provides 884 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. This surpasses even the most powerful Porsche Taycan model, the Taycan Turbo S. Combined with its striking design and luxurious interior features, the Polestar 5 has the potential to establish itself as a prominent player in the EV market.
Polestar 5 vs Porsche Taycan Specs
Polestar 5
Porsche Taycan
Motors
Dual-motor setup
Dual-motor setup
Battery
800 V (Battery type TBD)
723 V lithium-ion
Horsepower
884 horses
321-616 horses
Torque
663 pound-feet
626-774 pound-feet
Range
300 miles
206–246 miles
Starting Price
~$100,000
$86,700
Another exciting detail about the Polestar 5 is that a prototype was showcased at the Goodwood Hillclimb at the Festival of Speed. However, the actual production and sale of this bold new EV are set to take place in late 2024. The Polestar 5 has the potential to become a major player in the global electric vehicle market.
The Porsche Taycan Better Watch Out For Polestar 5
Porsche
A white Porsche Taycan Turbo S cruising down a scenic route
Although Porsche has long been known for its exceptional vehicles, the release of the Polestar 5 sports car is no small feat. With the Polestar 5 projected to have 122 horsepower more than the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, it poses stiff competition. Furthermore, Polestar aims for the Polestar 5 to rival the Taycan in terms of range, comfort, driving dynamics, and overall experience. The Polestar 5 is not just another EV, but a vehicle designed to dominate the EV space. It is also expected to challenge other luxury electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model S, Lucid Air, and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
Another noteworthy aspect is that the Polestar 5 is expected to match or exceed the Porsche Taycan Turbo S’ 0 to 62 MPH time of 2.8 seconds. With its impressive acceleration and faster charging capabilities, the Polestar 5 is positioned as a formidable competitor. The car is equipped with a 103-kWh battery, with one motor on the rear and one on the front, producing 884 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.
Polestar
The Polestar 5 3/4 back shot in studio showcasing its wide arches and no rear window
Furthermore, the Polestar 5 will produce 247 more horsepower than the Audi e-tron GT, 214 more horsepower than a standard Tesla Model S, and 134 horsepower more than Porsche’s fastest EV, the Taycan Turbo S. The projected range is approximately 300 miles, and the Polestar 5 will offer faster DC charging capabilities.
The Polestar 5 Boasts Super Fast Charge Times
Polestar
The Polestar 5’s side shot capturing its spacious interior
The Polestar 5 is equipped with an 800V architecture for ultra-fast charging.
This projected charging capability exceeds that of the Porsche Taycan and many other EVs on the market.
In addition to its stunning design, the Polestar 5 offers fast and efficient charge times. Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the Polestar 5 features an 800V architecture that enables lightning-quick charge times when using a DC ultra-rapid plug. This means you won’t have to wait around for hours to charge your sports car. The Polestar 5’s common stock will begin trading on the NASDAQ in June, marking a significant milestone for the brand.
Polestar’s decision to manufacture the Polestar 5 in China is not surprising, as the brand has a history of producing its cars in the country. However, this could lead to longer wait times for shipping and pre-orders. Regardless, Polestar is determined to establish itself as a leading player in the global EV market, and the Polestar 5 represents a major step towards achieving that goal.
Polestar is showcasing a significant portion of its lineup at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, including two upcoming models.
The Polestar 3 electric SUV and the latest version of the Polestar 5 prototype will be unveiled in action at the event. They will be joined by the Polestar 2 BST edition 230 limited-run model in the First Glance Paddock. All three vehicles will make two runs up the hill every day during the event.
While the Polestar 3 and Polestar 2 BST edition 230 have already been introduced, the Polestar 5 flagship remains fully camouflaged, as this is currently the latest verification prototype. The production version is expected to launch in 2024.
These official photos provide a better view of the electric four-door GT prototype compared to the most recent spy shots of the Polestar 5. The images reveal the final production bodywork, which includes details such as sleekly designed front and rear bumpers, flush door handles, and a body panel in place of a rear window.
The Polestar brand is a recent addition to the global automotive market. In October 2017, it became its own brand separate from Volvo, where it was originally a division for high-performance cars. This move was announced by Volvo Cars and Geely and marked the brand’s dedication to producing electric vehicles (EVs), coinciding with the 20th anniversary of its foundation by Flash / Polestar Racing.
A Unique Philosophy
The initial aim behind the creation of Polestar as a standalone brand was to compete in the emerging market of electrified cars. Their first model, the Polestar 1, was a large plug-in hybrid luxury coupe, followed by the Polestar 2, an all-electric midsize sedan that directly rivals the Tesla Model 3. Despite being a new brand, Polestar managed to sell around 110,000 vehicles worldwide between 2020 and May 2023, demonstrating their success in the premium segment.
A Better Volvo?
The confusion between Polestar and Volvo’s positioning began when Volvo introduced its first fully electric autonomous model, the Volvo C40. This highlighted Volvo’s plans to produce premium electric vehicles, raising questions about how the two brands will differentiate themselves while pursuing a similar goal.
Subsequently, Polestar unveiled the Polestar 3 around the same time as Volvo revealed the new XC90. Both vehicles are large premium electric SUVs, but their construction philosophies differ. Polestar’s existence is based on three fundamental pillars: design, innovation, and sustainability. They aim to produce a climate-neutral car by 2030, which aligns with Volvo’s values and objectives. However, the specifics of their differences are yet to be seen.
Volvo Will Also Become Fully Electric
As automakers transition from combustion to electric power, they are creating new brands or sub-brands to better position themselves in the new era. For example, BMW has the “i” sub-brand, and Mercedes has the “EQ” family. However, as the shift towards electric vehicles becomes predominant, manufacturers must avoid redundancy between these brands. Geely and Volvo Cars aim to position Polestar as a real alternative without negatively impacting Volvo’s sales.
Ultimately, the success and differentiation of Polestar will depend on the public’s response to their upcoming models. For now, both Polestar and Volvo can coexist, but only time will tell how they will continue to evolve.
The author of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Industry Specialist at JATO Dynamics.
During the UK launch of the Polestar 2, the Polestar team mentioned that they don’t typically do facelifts. Instead, they focus on subtle model-year updates and keeping their cars fresh through over-the-air updates. For 2023, the visual changes are minimal, with the fake grille now serving as the SmartZone for the driver assistance systems. Additionally, new wheel designs have been introduced, with the 20-inch option receiving positive reviews.
For the 2023 model, the main changes aim to reduce the Polestar 2’s energy consumption. Similar to the Volvo XC40 and Volvo C40 Recharge, the Polestar 2 now features a more efficient inverter and motor, which are mounted at the rear and power the rear wheels instead of the front. This change also brings a significant increase in power, with the long-range, single-motor version upgraded from 228bhp to 295bhp and capable of rapid charging at 205kW.
Consequently, the Polestar 2 has achieved a more favorable WLTP energy consumption figure of 4.2mpkWh, surpassing Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 streamliner, despite its less aerodynamic shape. Additionally, with a larger battery capacity and improved efficiency, the official range has increased to 406 miles, outperforming the Hyundai, Tesla Model 3 Long Range, and BMW i4 eDrive40.
Returning versions of the Polestar 2 include the Standard Range, Long Range Dual Motor, and Performance Pack, all benefiting from enhanced efficiency and more power. It’s worth noting that the entry-level car now claims a range of 331 miles, potentially making it the most appealing option in the lineup.
Two main questions arise from these updates: can the revised Polestar 2 deliver on its range claims in real-world conditions, and does the rear-wheel drive configuration make it more enjoyable to drive?
In terms of the first question, it’s important to acknowledge that no EV can fully match its laboratory claims, including the Polestar 2. However, after driving the car on various road types in mild conditions, it achieved an indicated energy consumption of 3.4mpkWh, translating to a range of 267 miles. This performance is comparable to the Ioniq 6, demonstrating a commendable result.
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