Polestar 5 debuts in Gran Turismo 7

Polestar’s flagship electric performance GT will launch in Gran Turismo 7 this December, following its showcase at the Gran Turismo World Series event in Los Angeles.

The Swedish-Chinese electric vehicle brand worked closely with Sony Interactive Entertainment subsidiary Polyphony Digital to create what both companies describe as a wholly accurate digital representation of the Polestar 5.

“I have long been impressed by Polestar cars for their advanced, clean, and elegant designs, and so I am delighted to collaborate with them to bring the Polestar 5 to Gran Turismo,” says Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo Series Producer.

“It is the first time we have worked together, and it has been a very positive experience. The development team at Polestar put a great deal of care into crafting the car’s driving experience, and so I am sure the players will enjoy the experience of driving it in Gran Turismo.”

Real-world testing drives digital accuracy

The collaboration involved unprecedented access between both development teams, with professional racing driver and sim-racer Igor Fraga playing a key role in translating the Polestar 5’s real-world dynamics into the game.

Fraga was given special access to prototype Polestar 5 vehicles and research and development experts at Polestar’s facilities in Sweden before final testing at the Brands Hatch circuit in England.

“Working with the Gran Turismo team to ensure the digital ‘feel’ of the Polestar 5 was as close as possible to the real thing was a really important step for us,” says Joakim Rydholm, Head of Driving Dynamics at Polestar.

“The end result means the digital car 100% replicates the behind-the-wheel experience of the real Polestar 5, meaning GT racers will have just as much fun as buyers of the actual cars.”

Polyphony Digital applied the real-world vehicle feedback to their handling and dynamics simulation, creating what the companies say allows lap times in-game and in real life to be directly comparable.

Partnership extends beyond December launch

The Polestar 5 will be available to all Gran Turismo 7 players on PlayStation 4 and and 5 through a free software update in December 2025.

Alongside the vehicle launch, a special Polestar time trial event will take place in Gran Turismo 7, with the winner receiving a trip to Fukuoka, Japan to attend the World Finals of the 2025 GT World Series.

A documentary film showcasing the collaboration between the physical and digital Polestar 5 development will be available on Polestar’s YouTube channel when the time trial goes live.

The partnership between Polestar and Polyphony Digital is set to continue over multiple years, though specific details of future collaborations have not been announced.

The Gran Turismo franchise recently surpassed 100 million sales and is regarded as one of the most visually and dynamically accurate driving simulators available.

Polestar has four models in its current line-up and is available in 28 markets globally across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.