The design of the Polestar 5 closely follows that of the Precept concept unveiled in 2020.
The production model is built on a bonded aluminium platform whose rigidity rivals that of two-seat supercars.
The Polestar 5 has an 800-volt battery architecture and up to 884 horsepower and 749 lb-ft of torque.
Five years after having unveiled the Precept concept, Polestar is launching its production version in the form of the Polestar 5 electric grand tourer.
Unsurprisingly, the Polestar 5 stays very close to the concept in terms of design, which means it adopts a modern, elegant, and aerodynamic shape that conveys its performance attributes.
Like the Polestar 4, the 5 does away with a rear window, which is replaced by a body-colour panel that joins the taillamps to the base of the massive glass roof, which measures over 6 feet long and 4 feet wide.
The rear window’s functionality is entirely replaced by a digital rear-view mirror, which displays a live feed from one of the numerous cameras placed all around the car.
Polestar 5 | Photo: PolestarOther noteworthy elements outside include dual-blade headlamps reminiscent of the Polestar 3 and 4, along with a low front end and black lower bodyside mouldings that visually reduce the car’s height.
A Kamm-style tail, flush side windows, and retractable door handles combine to help reduce the car’s drag coefficient to just 0.24 for the entry-level Dual Motor variant. The more powerful Polestar 5 Performance is less aerodynamic, but we don’t have precise data in this case.
The interior also stays very close to the prototype, with the main differences being the seats and the glass roof, which both look a bit sturdier in the production model.
Polestar 5 | Photo: PolestarThis means the Polestar 5 features a large 14.5-inch vertical floating center screen that is complemented by a small horizontal display on the steering column for the driver information. A volume knob between the front seats, window switches, the shift lever and the turn signal stalk appear to be the only physical controls available to the driver.
Polestar describes the 5 as a 4+1 vehicle, which means it can transport five people occasionally, but it is designed around 4 adults. Controls for the rear heated, ventilated and massaging seats, as well as the four-one climate control system are placed on the rear center armrest.
These rear seats can also be individually reclined for greater comfort, matching the front buckets designed in collaboration with Recaro. Polestar says the driving position is deliberately reclined to increase the car’s performance focus.
Standard upholstery is Charcoal micro-tech, but cruelty-free Bridge of Weir Nappa leather is also available.
Polestar 5 | Photo: PolestarAs in the brand’s other models, recycled materials play an important role in the Polestar 5. Most notable is the flax-based alternative to carbon fibre that graces the backs of the front seats. Recycled PET is used for the headlining while the carpets are made from Econyl, a material created from old fishing nets.
As with all of the brand’s models, the Polestar 5 relies on an Android Automotive infotainment system that has been configured specifically by the automaker, with four customizable tiles on the home page.
A 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system is available and a sound bar is placed behind the rear occupant’s heads, where the back window would usually be.
Polestar 5 | Photo: PolestarOf course, performance is a key aspect of the Polestar 5, which is available in two versions.
The standard Dual Motor variant delivers 748 horsepower and 599 lb-ft of torque while the Performance variant makes 884 horsepower and 749 lb-ft of torque. In both cases, the rear motor is a unit that was developed in-house.
This is good for a 0 to 100 km/h sprint of just 3,9 seconds and 3,2 seconds respectively, in line with the Porsche Taycan GTS.
Like the Taycan, the Polestar 5 also benefits from an 800-volt battery architecture, a first for the Swedish automaker. This makes charging speeds of up to 350 kW possible, taking the 112 kWh battery from 10 to 80% charge in as little as 22 minutes.
To ensure the Polestar 5’s handling matches its straight line speed, it is built on a brand new bonded-aluminum platform dubbed Polestar Performance Architecture (PPA) that promises to give the Swedish grand tourer better torsional rigidity than two-seat hypercars.
The suspension is a double-wishbone at the front and the dampers of the Performance model are BWI MagneRide adaptive units that scan the road 1,000 times per second in order to improve both comfort and handling in all situations. The Polestar 5 Dual Motor uses standard BWI passive dampers instead.
Polestar 5 | Photo: PolestarBrembo 4-piston front brake calipers are shared with the Polestar 3, but the 5 pairs them with two-piece 15,7-inch discs that reduce the braking system’s weight by 26 pounds over the Polestar 3.
Order books have already opened in selected markets, including Europe, where the first deliveries are expected next spring. Pricing has yet to be announced for North America, but the Polestar 5 Dual Motor starts at €119,900 ($194,655 CAD) in France, with the Performance costing at least €143,900 ($233,618 CAD). Canadian pricing should be significantly lower, however, as the Polestar 3 starts at $96,000 in Canada but €79,800 in France, which currently equates to $129,500 CAD).
