The Polestar 5 made its first public appearance on a driving circuit over the weekend, with two electric prototypes taking to the frozen track at the FAT International Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria.
The appearance marked the first time the long-awaited electric grand tourer has been shown in action before a public audience. The two prototypes, each delivering a combined 650 kilowatts of output, ran on an ice-covered airfield circuit in the Austrian Alps, highlighting the model’s performance credentials under extreme winter conditions.
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One of the vehicles featured a black-and-yellow Gran Turismo livery, reflecting Polestar’s partnership with Polyphony Digital, the studio behind the long-running racing simulation franchise. Gran Turismo creator and Polyphony Digital chief executive Kazunori Yamauchi attended the event and said the collaboration felt natural.
“Polestar and Gran Turismo are both very sophisticated brands, so it feels natural that they’re coming closer together,” Yamauchi said, describing the livery as “extremely refined.”
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Swedish racing driver Ted Björk piloted the Polestar 5 on the ice, offering an early assessment of the prototype’s dynamics despite the low-grip surface.
“I thought the car looked really cool. It felt very stable,” Björk said. “I immediately thought it was a really good car. It goes exactly where the driver intends.”
The FAT Ice Race outing follows a series of controlled previews and design showcases for the Polestar 5, which has progressed through a prolonged development phase since its original concept reveal. The model is positioned as a flagship electric GT within Polestar’s lineup, combining high power output with a focus on driving engagement.
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Yamauchi said the shift to electric drivetrains could reshape enthusiast culture in the years ahead. “The EV era has only just begun,” he said. “There are forms of driving pleasure and an overall smoothness that can only be achieved with EVs.”
Polestar has not yet confirmed a production start date for the Polestar 5, but the public track debut suggests the company is entering a more visible phase of pre-launch activity, with further demonstrations expected as it moves closer to market introduction.
