The Polestar 5 Is an 880 HP, All-Electric Grand Tourer

In its ongoing efforts to prove that it isn’t just Volvo’s orphaned spin-off, Polestar has officially unveiled its latest vehicle, the Polestar 5, a sleek and svelte four-door coupe that makes a metric ton of power while cosseting drivers in luxurious comfort.

So far, Polestar has revealed two trim levels for its sporty new electric vehicle (EV), the top of the line Performance and the slightly milder Dual Motor. The latter makes an impressive 737 hp and 599 lb-ft of torque, while the Polestar 5 Performance will offer bonkers outputs of 871 hp and 749 lb-ft of torque. That will allow the lower trim model to reach 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, while the higher-trim model rockets to the same speed in 3.2 seconds.

Whichever one buyers opt for, energy will be stored in a 106 kWh (useable) lithium-ion NMC battery pack with an 800-volt electric architecture. That should allow the EV to charge at speeds of up to 350 kW, which Polestar says will allow the battery to go from 10 to 80 per cent state of charge in as little as 22 minutes.

Although North American range figures have not yet been announced, in Europe (where range estimates tend to be much more optimistic than on this side of the pond), the Dual Motor trim is expected to be able to travel as far as 670 km per charge, while the Performance trim is expected to top out at 565 km.

However far it can travel when it reaches our shores, the Polestar 5 should be able handle corners well thanks to a brand-new platform, which the brand is calling the Polestar Performance Architecture. The new chassis features hot-cured bonded aluminum construction to lower weight and provide chassis rigidity that the automaker claims will rival supercars. More impressively, it will mostly be made of recycled metal or material made using green energy.

The PPA is paired to a double-wishbone suspension at the front, which, in the Performance trim, is paired to MagneRide adaptive dampers that constantly monitor the road to control body motion without sacrificing comfort. Below that, the Polestar 5 gets lightweight two-piece front brake discs that are clamped on by four-piston Brembo brake calipers.

Despite looking like a four-door coupe, Polestar says that rear passenger comfort has not been sacrificed here. That’s because the outboard seats have been designed to mirror the front seats (which were designed with help from Recaro) and can be reclined, cooled, or made to offer its occupant a massage. More to the point, the rear header structure has been moved behind the rear-seat occupants’ head in order to give them as much headroom as possible.

The design of the sloping roof — not to mention the rest of the vehicle — was completed with a view to ensuring sleek design and aerodynamic efficiency. Indeed, the shape has led to a coefficient of drag of 0.24, which is in line with other high-performance EVs.

Inside, the design is all about futuristic luxury and the cabin is full of newfangled recycled materials. In addition to using reclaimed plastic from waterbottles and fishing nets in the upholstery, Polestar is also making performance vehicles greener thanks to a new carbon-fibre alternative known as AmpliTex. The woven material is made of flax and weighs 40 per cent less than plastic while using 50 per cent less fossil fuel-based materials.

At the front of the cabin, drivers will get information from a nine-inch driver display, a 9.5-inch head-up display, and a 14.5-inch portrait orientation infotainment touchscreen in the middle of the cabin. The technology runs on the Android Automotive operating system and features Google Built-in technology.

Unfortunately, the automaker has not revealed when the Polestar 5 will be available in Canada, nor how much it will cost when it arrives here. However, we know that it won’t be cheap because prices in Europe start at EUR 119,900 for the Polestar 5 Dual Motor, and at EUR 142,900 for the Performance trim.