Polestar 5 makes Goodwood debut, patent design images surface online

The Polestar 5, a swooping futuristic electric sedan the company has dubbed a 'four-door GT', has made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today.

The latest model in the growing Polestar range is still some time away from its proper reveal, however, meaning today's debut was about showing what it can do rather than how it looks.

Much about the new flagship has been detailed already, of course, and while its name may not evoke any particular images of luxury or performance, the 5 is expected to pack plenty of both.

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A pair of front- and rear-mounted electric motors delivering 650kW and 900Nm are planned, along with an 800V architecture to ensure rapid charging for those leadfoots who might rapidly deplete the battery pack.

"The new powertrain we are working on will set a new brand benchmark in our high-performing cars. Combining strong electric motor engineering ability with advances in light-weight platform technology is leading to truly stunning driver’s cars," said Jörg Brandscheid, Polestar’s CTO and Head of R&D.

At Goodwood, those lucky enough to attend will see the Polestar 5 in the 'First Glance' group, running up that hill (nothing to do with Kate Bush) twice each day of the event.

Polestar 5 confirmed for Australia

The Polestar 5's market launch won't occur until the distant future of 2024, but Australian buyers can at least be sure they'll have the chance to secure one.

Exact local timing and details are still to be confirmed, however, and we wouldn't expect to learn more until closer to the launch. Depending on when it launches in Europe, a 2025 date for Australia could be likely.

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The story to here

June 15, 2022: Polestar 5 to debut at Goodwood

Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar has locked in this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed for the new Polestar 5's first public outing.

Confirming the Polestar 5 prototype will run up the famous Goodwood hillclimb on June 23, Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said the Festival of Speed was the natural venue of choice for the car's dynamic debut.

"Goodwood is our favourite place to show our cars in an enthusiast environment,” said Ingenlath.

“This year, we are thrilled to showcase Polestar 5 going up the hill! Our UK R&D team is doing an amazing job developing the car, and we are proud to be able to highlight their hard work at this early stage.”

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The Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 will also be on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Joining the 5 at Goodwood will be the updated Polestar 2, as well as its performance-focused Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 variant – the latter of which won't be available in Australia.

Read on below to find out what we know so far about the Polestar 5.

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June 7, 2022: Polestar 5 design patents leak

The mystery of the Polestar 5 electric sedan's design has all but disappeared after design patents for the upcoming model surfaced online.

Filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the images show off what Polestar's first GT-style, fastback sedan will look like – now incorporating real side mirrors rather than cameras.

Its front fascia has also been tweaked from the Precept Concept to now incorporate lower headlights, while a cleaner, more conservative design has been implemented for its lower front bumper and skirts.

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Aside from a spot for the rear numberplate to sit and a dialled-down diffuser, the rear design is largely unchanged from the concept which inspired the 5.

As with the current Polestar 2, the 5's wheels are based around a four-section design, with eight main chrome spokes incorporating a pair of thinner black ones between them.

Polestar is gearing up for the reveal of its 3 SUV in the coming months before the 5 is unveiled next year, with its launch expected to come closer to 2024.

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February 16, 2022: Polestar 5 to ride on bespoke new platform

The Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT will feature a brand-new, bespoke, bonded aluminium platform, the carmaker has confirmed.

Bonded aluminium is light-weight and rigid, offering high performance and environmental advantages, however it has previously proven labour-intensive and difficult to use in mass production vehicles without sacrificing quality.

Polestar says its engineers have resolved this challenge by developing an entirely new, faster manufacturing process that develops both the body and platform at the same time. As a result, the completed structure is expected to weigh less than rival cars in smaller segments, making it more efficient and offering improved driving range.

“We knew we wanted this car to be light-weight, we knew we wanted high quality and we knew we wanted it quickly,” said Pete Allen, head of Polestar UK’s R&D team. “This architecture delivers outstanding dynamic and safety attributes, with low investment technology applicable to high production volumes.”

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November 24, 2021: Polestar 5 previewed

Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Polestar has teased its first GT car, with the Polestar 5 previewed as a part of its Precept concept video series.

Developed at Polestar's research and design centre in the United Kingdom, the Polestar 5's design provides a strong reflection of the Precept which was first revealed in February 2020, now slated to hit showrooms four years after its public debut.

The production model looks to feature a steeper roof line and integrated, physical door handles and more conservative side skirts, all of which make the Polestar 5 appear more like its contemporary competitors.

Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said the video series allowed the brand's fans to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making a concept car into a production-ready vehicle.

“With the Precept documentary series we are intentionally doing something car companies usually don’t – going behind the scenes with transparency as we turn this stunning concept car into production reality," said Ingenlath.

"It makes me very proud to see how much of the concept car’s design is making it into the Polestar 5 – a great achievement by our designers and engineers alike.

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September 17, 2021: Polestar teases upcoming sedan

Swedish-owned luxury brand Polestar has teased its full-size electric sedan, showing off a photo of the Precept concept's pre-production prototype.

Off the back of the Precept's reveal in February 2020, Polestar has documented the process behind the design of the concept car, a vehicle which was always expected to influence its future generations of passenger cars.

From what we can now see, the production car will feature four conventionally-opening doors, rather than the rear-hinged doors of the concept, yet it still retains the Audi A5/A7 Sportback-esque rear lines – with the front of the rear-quarter panel tightening up towards the C-pillar.

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The Precept concept will influence Polestar's design language of the future

Currently undergoing R&D at Polestar's facility within the MIRA Technology Park in the UK, the 250-strong team is committed to bringing the Precept to life before it goes into production from 2025.

Although Polestar's current manufacturing base is located in China, it has plans to build its Polestar 3 SUV in the United States at Volvo's production facility in South Carolina – a plant which could eventually be home to production of the Precept.

Polestar plans to only introduce electric vehicles in the future, with the wider goal of releasing a carbon neutral car by 2030, having recently been brought back under majority ownership by Volvo which now holds a 49.5 per cent stake in the business.

Launching in Australia later this year, Polestar will first come to the local market with the Polestar 2 four-door liftback, looking at challenging the established EV brands such as Tesla on pricing and equipment.