Polestar 5 gets aluminium platform

The electric Polestar 5 performance 4-door GT will be faster, lighter and more dynamic thanks to a new United Kingdom-developed bonded aluminium platform.

The Polestar 5 will be on sale in the first markets in late 2024, with the Giltrap Group Polestar’s official New Zealand representative.

The platform has been developed in-house by more than 280 engineers from Polestar’s UK R&D team based in Coventry, England, the team expected to grow to 500 employees in coming months.

The bespoke aluminium platform unlocks exciting possibilities for Polestar – set to provide the forthcoming Polestar 5 with class-leading dynamics, rigidity and safety features, the company says.

The innovative manufacturing process accelerates Polestar 5’s development schedule by allowing both body and platform to be built in unison, significantly reducing traditional lead times.

Bonded aluminium is light-weight and rigid, offering superlative performance and environmental advantages.

As a result of the new materials and techniques involved, the body-in-white (completed platform and body) is expected to weigh less than that of cars in smaller segments, contributing to improved vehicle efficiency, real-world EV range and dynamic responsiveness, all while delivering leading safety levels and help drive faster product introduction, high quality and platform rigidity, Polestar says.

Polestar chief executive Thomas Ingenlath says the UK team’s mix of engineering and technological expertise enables Polestar to develop advanced, light-weight sports car technology with a creative mindset and a spirit that embraces innovative engineering.

“We knew we wanted this car to be light-weight, we knew we wanted high quality and we knew we wanted it quickly,” Polestar UK R&D head Pete Allen says.

“This architecture delivers outstanding dynamic and safety attributes, with low investment technology applicable to high production volumes.”

More details on Polestar 5 will continue to surface as the YouTube documentary series Precept: From Concept to Car details how the Polestar Precept evolves into the production car.