POLESTAR - Polestar, the Swedish premium electric performance car maker, has confirmed that the forthcoming Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT will feature a brand-new, bespoke, bonded aluminum platform.
Bonded
aluminum is light-weight and rigid, offering superlative performance and
environmental advantages. While this technology has previously proven
labor-intensive and difficult to use in mass production vehicles without
sacrificing quality, Polestar’s engineering team have developed an entirely
new, faster manufacturing process that develops both body and platform in
unison. Based in the heart of the UK’s Motorsport Valley in the Midlands of
England, Polestar’s engineering team of 280 previously worked on projects such
as Formula 1 race cars, low-volume vehicles and sports cars.
“Our UK
R&D team is one of Polestar’s greatest assets,” says Thomas Ingenlath,
Polestar CEO. “Their mix of engineering and technological expertise enables us
to develop advanced, light-weight sports car technology with a creative mindset
and a spirit that embraces innovative engineering. This will set Polestar apart
in the years to come.”
By
developing this technology for Polestar’s first in-house platform, the 4-door
Polestar 5 is being designed with torsional rigidity superior to that of a
traditional two-seat sports- or supercar. The decision to develop a bespoke
platform has also enabled the brand to deliver a production model that remains
true to the Precept concept car that inspired it.
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. A lighter-weight body-in-white contributes to improved vehicle
efficiency, real-world EV range and dynamic responsiveness, all while
delivering leading safety levels. The new bonded aluminum platform will also
help drive higher vehicle quality, platform rigidity and a faster introduction
of the product to market.
“We knew we
wanted this car to be light-weight, we knew we wanted high quality and we knew
we wanted it quickly,” says Pete Allen, Head of Polestar UK R&D. “This
architecture delivers outstanding dynamic and safety attributes, with low
investment technology applicable to high production volumes.”
Development of Polestar 5 continues at a rapid pace, with global
efforts led by the growing UK R&D unit, which will continue to play a
critical role in enhancing Polestar’s in-house R&D capabilities. The
R&D unit is expected to grow to approximately 500 engineers in the coming
months. More information on Polestar 5 will be released in the YouTube
documentary series “Precept: From Concept to Car” that details how
the Polestar Precept evolves into the production car.
This
announcement continues to strengthen Polestar’s position ahead of its proposed
business combination with Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW and
GGPIU), which is expected to close in the first half of 2022.