Polestar 5: High Performance EV Sedan
Due next year, the Polestar 5 will be the sleek electric flagship of the startup Swedish EV brand. Built on an all-new platform, it be available in multiple versions, with the top spec offering almost 900 horsepower and all-wheel drive. And now, the company has announced that the new Polestar 5 will use new battery technology that will give the vehicle impressive range and fast charging capability. It will sit at the top of the company's range, above the Polestar 2 sedan and the large Polestar 3 SUV.
Large High Nickel Battery Cells
The new battery tech, from South Korean battery manufacturer SK On, features a high concentration of nickel, which is said to offer superior charging speeds, efficient discharging, and improved range. The battery cells themselves are also really big – about 22 inches long. Most EV battery cells are small, cylindrical cells or small pouches, which allow for more intricate packages, but more space is wasted because each cell has an exterior surface; when thousands of cells are combined into a large battery pack, some space is wasted. SK On’s new battery packs for Polestar will therefore have a higher energy density.
SK On is not just a battery supplier; it is also an investor in Polestar, said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO: “Our relationship with SK On has been fruitful following our initial MOU and their investment in our brand. Polestar 5 is developing at pace and will feature this high-capacity battery to provide the performance expected of our grand tourer.”
Polestar 5: Technology
The top version of the Polestar 5 will feature two high-output electric motors – one at each axle – which the company says will deliver a combined 884 horsepower, which would make it one of the highest-performing four-door EVs on the market.
As you would expect from a six-figure car, the Polestar 5 will be built around a high-performance 800-volt architecture. In addition to allowing for much higher charging speeds, 800-volt systems also use thinner, lighter wiring, reducing vehicle weight and improving performance.
With low-slung, sports car styling, the Polestar 5 uses a lightweight bonded aluminum chassis, more similar to a Ferrari than a conventional sedan. The lightweight, high-rigidity tech is a more expensive way of building vehicles, and is normally associated with low-volume sports cars. Polestar says that the chassis’ stiffness is key to the 5’s dynamic driving experience.
Timeless Scandinavian Design
We haven’t seen the Polestar 5’s interior yet, though the company says that the 2020 Polestar Precept concept car gives us plenty of hints. Given the company’s track record, we expect it to combine high tech with easy-to-use interfaces, and for it to lean heavily on sustainable and recyclable materials. All told, the Polestar 5’s interior should be typically Scandinavian – classically elegant, easy to understand, and with a timeless quality that should last decades.
The first Polestar 5 models should arrive on U.S. shores in 2024, and we’re excited to see them in person. This new brand, an offshoot of Volvo, has quickly made a name for itself as a maker of practical, well-designed EVs with surprising performance and excitement. As the company’s new flagship, we expect the 5 to be a truly electrifying proposition.
