Enlarge / Polestar is developing a four-door electric GT called the Polestar 5, which goes on sale in 2024. (credit: Polestar)

Polestar provided a flight from Washington, DC, to London and back and two nights in a hotel so we could visit its UK R&D center. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

NUNEATON, ENGLAND—Any day is a good day that involves a visit to a proving ground, even if that includes a two-hour drive fresh from a transatlantic flight. And this was a good day: a visit to Polestar's UK research and development center, based at the Motor Industry Research Association's proving grounds outside Coventry, England, to find out how it's getting on with one of its next electric vehicles, a purposeful-looking performance sedan called the Polestar 5.

Until now, the Polestar EVs we've seen have used platforms shared across other brands within the Geely group. The Polestar 2 fastback sedan uses the same CMA platform as the Volvo XC40, and next year's Polestar 3 SUV —which will be built in South Carolina—uses the group's SPA2 platform.

That involves some compromises, though; those platforms were designed to be built in high volumes, with attributes like ride comfort prioritized over handling prowess. That's fine for, say, a luxury SUV—even a sporty one. But if you were a brand wanting to build a competitor for the Porsche Taycan, you might want to start from scratch.

Enlarge / Polestar is developing a four-door electric GT called the Polestar 5, which goes on sale in 2024. (credit: Polestar)

Polestar provided a flight from Washington, DC, to London and back and two nights in a hotel so we could visit its UK R&D center. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

NUNEATON, ENGLAND—Any day is a good day that involves a visit to a proving ground, even if that includes a two-hour drive fresh from a transatlantic flight. And this was a good day: a visit to Polestar's UK research and development center, based at the Motor Industry Research Association's proving grounds outside Coventry, England, to find out how it's getting on with one of its next electric vehicles, a purposeful-looking performance sedan called the Polestar 5.

Until now, the Polestar EVs we've seen have used platforms shared across other brands within the Geely group. The Polestar 2 fastback sedan uses the same CMA platform as the Volvo XC40, and next year's Polestar 3 SUV —which will be built in South Carolina—uses the group's SPA2 platform.

That involves some compromises, though; those platforms were designed to be built in high volumes, with attributes like ride comfort prioritized over handling prowess. That's fine for, say, a luxury SUV—even a sporty one. But if you were a brand wanting to build a competitor for the Porsche Taycan, you might want to start from scratch.

Enlarge / Polestar is developing a four-door electric GT called the Polestar 5, which goes on sale in 2024. (credit: Polestar)

Polestar provided a flight from Washington, DC, to London and back and two nights in a hotel so we could visit its UK R&D center. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

NUNEATON, ENGLAND—Any day is a good day that involves a visit to a proving ground, even if that includes a two-hour drive fresh from a transatlantic flight. And this was a good day: a visit to Polestar's UK research and development center, based at the Motor Industry Research Association's proving grounds outside Coventry, England, to find out how it's getting on with one of its next electric vehicles, a purposeful-looking performance sedan called the Polestar 5.

Until now, the Polestar EVs we've seen have used platforms shared across other brands within the Geely group. The Polestar 2 fastback sedan uses the same CMA platform as the Volvo XC40, and next year's Polestar 3 SUV —which will be built in South Carolina—uses the group's SPA2 platform.

That involves some compromises, though; those platforms were designed to be built in high volumes, with attributes like ride comfort prioritized over handling prowess. That's fine for, say, a luxury SUV—even a sporty one. But if you were a brand wanting to build a competitor for the Porsche Taycan, you might want to start from scratch.