Polestar 5 Performance

The Polestar 5 is a four-door electric grand tourer and, in Performance form, the most powerful car Polestar has built. It is on sale in the UK now, with the Performance Launch edition priced from £104,900.

The hardware

Two motors drive all four wheels, producing a combined 650 kW (871 bhp) and 1,015 Nm. The rear motor is developed in-house by Polestar and contributes up to 450 kW and 660 Nm on its own. Polestar quotes 0–60 mph in 3.1 seconds, 0–62 mph in 3.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. These are manufacturer figures, not VOLT-AGE test results.

Battery and charging

The 112 kWh (106 kWh usable) battery from SK On runs on an 800-volt architecture, the first on a Polestar. It charges at up to 350 kW, taking it from 10 to 80 per cent in 22 minutes. Polestar's WLTP range target for the Performance is 558 km, about 347 miles.

Built as a GT

The car sits on a bespoke bonded aluminium platform, with the battery forming part of the structure. The Performance adds Polestar Engineered chassis tuning with MagneRide dampers, 21-inch wheels and Brembo brakes. Inside there is a 4+1 seating layout and Android Automotive OS with Google built in.

Why it matters

The Polestar 5 is aimed squarely at the Porsche Taycan, and the Performance matches the Taycan Turbo's 871 bhp. It belongs in this directory as an electric GT built for covering long distances fast, not just for winning a drag race.