Skip advert
Advertisement

​Polestar 5 gunning for Porsche Taycan as 871bhp flagship

Still think Polestar’s just a Volvo offshoot? The 871bhp Polestar 5 will probably change that. Here's our first glimpse

The Polestar 5 is set to be the marque's answer to high-end EVs like the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron GT and Tesla Model S, and over four years since it was first previewed with the Precept concept, test mules have now been spotted out on the road. An exact on sale date is yet to be confirmed, but expect to be see the model in full in 2025 before order books open.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The target for the 5 is a 871bhp peak power output and 664lb ft peak torque figure, derived from two electric motors that run on an 800V electrical system. This makes the new Polestar 5 all-wheel drive, however the large single rear motor suggests that power torque-vectoring on the rear axle (as is found on the Model S Plaid) might not be integrated.

> Polestar 4 2024 review – 536bhp crossover is the fastest yet

The sleek four-door saloon is built on Polestar’s own bespoke architecture, a brand new bonded aluminium structure being developed here in the UK with expertise derived from brands such as McLaren, Aston Martin and Lotus – not to mention a few of the F1 teams dotted around the countryside. Polestar’s British R&D team started out small, with just 81 staff in 2018, but has grown quickly with the expansion of its UK facility.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

The reason behind Polestar’s decision to set up a satellite engineering hub outside of its Gothenburg and Chengdu HQ and manufacturing centres was for a very simple and enticing reason. Polestar wants the Polestar 5 to not just rival the Taycan in terms of range or comfort, but also driving dynamics, something it’s investing in properly with this new ground-up architecture and the staff who know how to deliver it. 

The bonded aluminium chassis itself will give engineers the chance to streamline its structure to reduce weight, and deliver specific proportions unique from any Volvo model. The construction method itself isn’t dissimilar to the system employed by Aston Martin, and should also yield excellent torsional rigidity. To this structure, Polestar will fit a low-line battery pack with a scoop taken out of the rear passenger section – as is found in the Porsche Taycan – but Polestar will allow for more rear legroom than the Porsche, something that will be mirrored in the 5’s ultimate chassis tune with a more relaxed GT-like setup being initially prioritised. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Polestar 5 design will be directly derived from the 2020 Precept Concept, and as these latest spy shots confirm, the production car receives only subtle changes to the detailing, panel junctions and lighting. The proportions are the first thing that look accurate, with a long bonnet, wheelbase and sloping roofline. This style of long coupe-cum-hatchback is not unusual for modern electric cars – the Tesla Model S introduced the look as far back as 2009 – but for one key element that’s visible in these images: a complete lack of a rear screen, just like the Polestar 4. 

Other elements have also been directly brought over from the Precept, including the compact split headlights which are driven by a new interpretation of the Thor’s Hammer headlight graphic, while the grille has been replaced entirely, now forming both a home for the concept’s safety sensors and driving assistance functions. There’s also a small slip vent integrated into that same space which attaches air to its body, forcing it up and over the windscreen – a similar trick to that found on the Jaguar I-Pace.

We'll have to wait a bit longer still to see Polestar’s full potential in the 5, but by all accounts so far it doesn’t look like we’re about to be disappointed.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Polestar’s rally-inspired Arctic Circle collection breaks cover – 536bhp Polestar 4 gains focus
Polestar Arctic Circle collection
News

Polestar’s rally-inspired Arctic Circle collection breaks cover – 536bhp Polestar 4 gains focus

A comprehensive makeover for Polestar’s model range as they go racing on ice
30 Jan 2025
Polestar 4 2024 review – 536bhp crossover is the fastest yet
Polestar 4 front
Reviews

Polestar 4 2024 review – 536bhp crossover is the fastest yet

The Polestar 4 is a style and performance statement that greatly appeals, even if it lacks the absolute dynamic polish of some rivals
29 Sep 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025