- Polestar has released the Polestar 5, an electric grand tourer with a maximum range of 670 kilometres
- It’s the Swedish marque’s most powerful—and expensive—model yet, churning out 737 to 871bhp and going from 0 to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds
- The Polestar 5 is now available for pre-order in Australia and is priced from $171,000AUD before ORC
Polestar has made no secret of its intention to not merely revolutionise the electric vehicle market, but compete with the big boys. Namely, messieurs Porsche and Audi. And its latest release is a heavyhitter that’s set to do just that.
Unlike Polestars 1 to 4, the Polestar 5 is built on an entirely new platform (rather than sharing the teachings of other brands under its parent company, including Volvo, Zeekr, and Smart), being the first to debut a hot-bonded aluminium chassis.
Based on the Precept concept car from 2020, the newcomer—dubbed the ‘Polestar 5’ in the Swedish marque’s signature essentialist nomenclature—further dials in the minimalist design language Polestar has proposed since its inception, with the five-metre Grand Tourer defined by its clean lines and almost monolithic design. Devoid of rear windows (a hi-res camera on the roof projects information onto a digital rearview mirror inside the cabin), it features taut bodywork that takes its cues from the aviation world, with a low, sneering nose wearing SmartZone sensors and dual blade headlights and an aerodynamic wing-like profile with Kamm-style tail.
The wheel and bonnet line are brought together thanks to the vehicles platform and unique front suspension design, while the use of gloss black cladding on the slower section of the doors reduces the Polestar 5’s visual height and bestows it with a more streamlined appearance.
The Polestar 5 is available in six paint specs, two of those being matte options — a deep grey and a lighter silver.
Inside, equal attention is paid to driver and passenger comfort (no carbon fibre bucket seats here!). Low-slung Recaro seats are equipped with supportive bolstering and come upholstered in MicroTech as standard, with the option for chrome-free, animal welfare secured Bridge of Weir Nappa leather. More than an afterthought, rear seats are equipped with their own climate system, seat heating, ventilation, and massage functions, and come with the ability to recline.
Smart materials are used without, boasting sustainable credentials without compromise — there’s a flax-based carbon fibre alternative in the seats, recycled fishing net carpets, knitted decorative weaving on the doors, and any optional leather is a by-product from the food industry.
The low-slung seats in conjunction with an upright angled steering wheel facilitate a reclined driving position. A nine-inch driver display is mounted directly to the adjustable steering column, ensuring it’s always in sight regardless of driving position, while a 9.5-inch heads-up display further contributes to a driver-focused setup.
Under the hood—actually, under both the front and rear axles—the 800V dual motor setup churns out 737bhp and darts from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 250km/h. That’s just the mainline Polestar 5 Dual Motor model though — the Performance spec delivers 871bhp with a 0 to 100km/h time of 3.2 seconds, with the same top speed. The Polestar 5 marks the first time the Swedish marque has used an 800V battery, which facilitates a 10 to 80% charge time of as little as 22 minutes (using a 350kW DC fast charger). The Polestar 5 Dual Motor has a range of up to 670 kilometres, while the Performance model sits at 565 kilometres.
The Polestar 5 is priced from $171,000AUD before ORC, with the performance model starting at $193,100AUD. While this price point is double the marque’s previous offerings, its acceleration is up there with the Porsche Taycan GTS and power equivalent to the Taycan Turbo GT, which will run you well over $250,000AUD and $400,000AUD, respectively. All things considered, it’s not a bad deal.
Only time will tell whether the Polestar 5 will be able to encroach on the Porsche Taycan’s market share, but one thing’s certain: they won’t hear it coming.
Words by T. Angel
