Five years ago, Polestar dropped the Precept concept at a time when the brand was still finding its footing beyond Volvo’s performance tuning shadow. Back then, it felt like automotive vaporware — another stunning concept destined to be watered down into something forgettable. But the production Polestar 5 that just debuted in Munich proves that sometimes the wait is worth it, delivering a fastback grand tourer that doesn’t just honor the original vision but actually improves on it.
Electric Sophistication with a Racing Edge
Polestar’s journey from Swedish touring car racing outfit in 1996 to premium EV manufacturer reads like a masterclass in brand evolution. What started as Flash Engineering became Polestar Racing, then Volvo’s performance arm, before emerging as its own electric-focused marque in 2017. That motorsport heritage is baked into the 5’s foundation through the bespoke Polestar Performance Architecture.
This hot-cured bonded aluminum platform delivers torsional rigidity that exceeds most supercars, a feat that becomes immediately apparent when you consider the 5’s aggressive specifications. The platform uses 13% recycled aluminum with 83% sourced from renewable-powered smelters, proving that sustainability and performance aren’t mutually exclusive.
Power That Backs Up the Posturing
The numbers speak for themselves. The base Dual Motor churns out 748hp and 599lb.ft of torque, launching from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Step up to the Performance variant and you’re looking at 884hp, 749lb.ft, and a 3.1-second sprint that puts it squarely in Porsche Taycan GTS territory.
Developed in-house, the rear motor contributes up to 450kW in the Performance trim. While other manufacturers rely heavily on supplier partnerships, Polestar’s decision to develop this component internally suggests serious long-term commitment to powertrain excellence.
The 800-volt architecture — a first for Polestar — enables 350kW DC fast charging that can replenish the 112kWh battery from 10-80% in just 22 minutes. Range estimates hit 416 miles for the Dual Motor and 351 miles for the Performance variant on the WLTP cycle, which typically translates to roughly 375 and 300 miles respectively under EPA testing.
Minimizing Drag
With the Kamm-style tail and wing-like profile, the 5’s silhouette manages to be both distinctive and aerodynamically efficient, achieving a 0.24 drag coefficient while maintaining the dramatic proportions that made the Precept concept so compelling.
Like the Polestar 4, the 5 ditches the rear window entirely, relying on a digital rearview mirror system. This controversial choice enables the massive panoramic glass roof that stretches over 6ft in length, creating an airy cabin experience that rivals the Lucid Air for spaciousness perception.
The SmartZone front panel houses 11 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and mid-range radar, while interior radars detect occupant positioning for optimized safety system deployment.
Interior Sustainability
The cabin seats four comfortably, or five if you raise the center armrest. Polestar worked with Recaro on the front seats, which sit low and lean back more than typical. The rear seats recline too, and there’s a cutout in the battery pack that gives back-seat passengers more legroom.
Polestar packed the interior with sustainable materials, though some feel more gimmicky than others. The flax-based weave from BComp replaces carbon fiber and weighs 40% less than plastic. The optional Bridge of Weir leather is chrome-free and adds heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. Even the carpets are made from recycled fishing nets, which sounds impressive until you realize most premium brands are doing similar things these days.
The tech stack centers around a 14.5-inch portrait display running Polestar’s Android Automotive implementation, flanked by a 9-inch driver display mounted directly to the steering column. A 9.5-inch heads-up display rounds out the information hierarchy, while the optional 21-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system with 1,680 watts promises concert-hall acoustics.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2026 Polestar 5 Dual Motor and Performance
Power: 748 hp or 884 hp
Torque: 599lb.ft or 749lb.ft
0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds or 3.1 seconds
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Range: 416 miles or 351 miles (WLTP)
Battery: 112kWh lithium-ion (106kWh usable)
Charging: Up to 350kW DC, 10-80% in 22 minutes
Platform: Polestar Performance Architecture (bonded aluminum)
Pricing & Availability
With deliveries planned for the first half of 2026, the Polestar 5 is available to order now in 24 European markets, with pricing starting at £89,500 (~$121,000) for the Dual Motor Launch Edition and £104,900 (~$142,000) for the Performance variant. North American pricing and availability will be announced later on.
Recap
Polestar 5
Based on the Precept concept, the Polestar 5 delivers on five years of hype with up to 884hp, 441 miles of range, supercar-level rigidity, and a striking fastback design that finally gives Porsche’s Taycan some real competition.
