Frank Stephenson reviews the Polestar 5 design

Frank Stephenson is a car designer whose successes outnumber those of the Beatles, with work including the Escort RS Cossie, the original BMW Mini, Maserati MC12, numerous Ferraris and the McLaren P1. He now leads his own consultancy, Frank Stephenson Design. Here, he gives his assessment of the electric Polestar 5 grand tourer.

Polestar 5 design and Scandinavian identity

As a comparatively new marque, Polestar aims to establish a distinctive design direction rooted in Scandinavian values and principles. The new Polestar 5 clearly delivers this, although it relies on a few design devices.

Much of the credit belongs to Nahum Escobedo, who has successfully turned the Precept concept, revealed five years ago, into a faithful production car. Five years can feel like an age in today’s car-design industry, yet the 5’s exterior still looks fresh for the brand. In typically Swedish fashion, it communicates simplicity without any flamboyance.

Front-end treatment

At the front, with no defining grille, the Thor’s Hammer-shaped LED headlamps are the sole prominent feature; their lighting signature appears to take inspiration from sister brand Volvo. The Precept’s highly effective, very cool nose wing seems to have lost either the final engineering contest or the final marketing argument. In its place is a sharply descending bonnet and wing surface, which helps suggest the low-nosed form of a sports car. The radar and sensors are neatly incorporated within the front bumper’s unbreathing, all-seeing area.

The Precept front spoiler did not reach production. A shame: EV architecture permits an exceptionally low front-end design.

Side profile and rear design

Viewed from the side, the 5 blends strong and less successful details into a moderately pleasing silhouette. The clearly aviation-inspired cabin-to-body proportions work well, while the elegantly extended dark glass roof reduces the car’s perceived height. However, the lower bodyside has no directional emphasis and is overly symmetrical in its overall graphic, failing to reinforce a sense of forward movement. Unfortunately, this lessens the 5’s dynamic character. The attractive, open-design polished wheels complement the sporting nature of this high-performance GT, although their static appearance and even number of spokes work against that impression.

A powerful rear shoulder flows into a crisp rear end with a pronounced Kamm tail, which is excellent for aerodynamics. The side treatment is overly symmetrical and lacks direction. The wheel design is beautiful, but the four spokes make the car appear static. The extended glass area breaks up the visual mass of the bodyside. The placement of the high-mounted centre stop lamp is unfortunate. No rear glass: a complete cliché!

The interior is clean and minimalist, but where is the soul?

The stance is excellent, but the rear lighting signature is weak.

Verdict: HOT