The Polestar 5 made its Australian debut in dramatic fashion at a gala launch event in Sydney in March, introducing the brand’s most powerful and technologically advanced electric vehicle to date. The sleek four-door electric GT represents a significant step forward for the performance EV brand, combining Scandinavian design, cutting-edge electric architecture, and a strong focus on sustainability.
Positioned as a high-performance grand tourer, the Polestar 5 has been developed on the company’s bespoke Polestar Performance Architecture (PPA), featuring a bonded aluminium body structure designed to deliver high rigidity while keeping weight under control. According to the brand, the platform unlocks both performance capability and improved interior space.
Speaking at the launch event, Sarah Wray-McCann, Product Planning and Commercial Training Manager at Polestar Australia, said the Polestar 5 demonstrates how design, sustainability and performance can work together rather than compete.
“Underneath the skin there really is a formidable performance setup,” said Wray-McCann. “This car literally proves that design, sustainability and performance are not opposing forces. When you put all those things together you can create really beautiful things and come up with some novel solutions.”
Performance electric GT
At the heart of the Polestar 5 is an 800-volt electrical platform, enabling higher power output and faster charging compared with previous Polestar models.
Two variants will be offered globally:
- Polestar 5 Dual Motor producing 550 kW and 812 Nm
- Polestar 5 Performance producing 650 kW and 1,015 Nm
The flagship Performance model accelerates from 0–100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds, placing it firmly in the territory of traditional high-performance GT cars, while maintaining a top speed of 250 km/h.
The vehicle uses an in-house developed rear electric motor, paired with a front motor to deliver all-wheel drive performance. According to Polestar, the rear motor alone can produce around 450 kW, making it one of the most powerful single electric motors currently in production.
Wray-McCann said the goal was not simply headline performance numbers but delivering the driving experience expected from a grand touring performance car.
“For us, speed is exciting and we’ve got that ticked off. But performance is not just about speed – it’s about the feeling you get when you hit that first bend in the road and the smile you experience when you stop.”
To achieve that balance, the Polestar 5 features Brembo braking hardware, sophisticated suspension tuning, and semi-active MagneRide dampers on the Performance variant.
Long-range fast charging
The Polestar 5 uses a 112 kWh lithium-ion battery paired with the 800-volt architecture. The system supports 350 kW DC fast charging, allowing the battery to charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 22 minutes.
Driving range targets are also impressive for a high-performance vehicle:
- Up to 678 km WLTP for the Dual Motor model
- Up to 558 km WLTP for the Performance version. Polestar 5 Specifications
Scandinavian design inspiration
The Polestar 5’s exterior design draws inspiration from grand touring proportions, with a long bonnet, low nose and sweeping roofline. The front design has even taken cues from nature.
Wray-McCann explained that the shape was inspired by the form of a shark moving through water.
“The front area of the Polestar 5 has a nose that replicates the look of a shark moving in the water – giving the car a sense of motion even when it’s standing still.”
The design also incorporates aerodynamic and technological solutions, including frameless flush windows, deployable door handles and a digital rear-view mirror using a high-definition camera rather than a traditional rear window.
Sustainability built into the design
While performance is central to the Polestar 5, sustainability remains a core focus for the brand.
The vehicle has zero tailpipe emissions and a reported cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of 23.8 tonnes CO₂e, reflecting the total emissions generated during the manufacturing process before the vehicle is delivered to customers.
The interior also incorporates a range of innovative materials, including bio-based textiles and responsibly sourced leather options, demonstrating the brand’s ongoing effort to reduce the environmental impact of vehicle production.
A new chapter for Polestar
The Polestar 5 represents the next step in the brand’s expansion into the premium performance EV segment. As Wray-McCann explained during the Sydney launch, the car is intended to demonstrate what the future of sustainable performance could look like.
“This car shows that there are other ways of creating beautiful products that are also fun to drive. We like to think we’re writing new pages in the handbook of what a performance car can be.”
With its combination of high-performance electric power, long-range capability and sustainability-focused engineering, the Polestar 5 is positioned as a flagship model that showcases the brand’s ambitions for the next generation of electric vehicles.
