Swedish premium electric performance car maker, Polestar, has announced that the new Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT will feature a brand-new, bespoke, bonded aluminium platform.
The advantage of bonded aluminium is that it’s both lightweight and rigid, offering superlative performance and environmental advantages. This technology has previously proven labour-intensive and difficult to use in mass production vehicles without sacrificing quality.
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Now, Polestar’s 280-strong team of former Formula 1, low volume and bespoke sports cars engineers, based in the heart of the UK’s Motorsport Valley in the Midlands, have developed an entirely new, faster manufacturing process that develops both body and platform in unison to solve the problem.
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.
This contributes to improved vehicle efficiency, driving range and dynamic responsiveness, all while delivering leading safety levels. The new bonded aluminium platform will also help drive faster product introduction, high quality and platform rigidity.
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Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “Our UK R&D team is one of Polestar’s greatest assets. Their mix of engineering and technological expertise enables us to develop advanced, lightweight 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 further 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.
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Pete Allen, Head of Polestar UK R&D, said: “We knew we wanted this car to be light-weight, we knew we wanted high quality and we knew we wanted it quickly. This architecture delivers outstanding dynamic and safety attributes, with low investment technology applicable to high production volumes.”
Development of Polestar 5 continues at pace, with global efforts led by a growing UK R&D unit, which is expected to grow to approximately 500 engineers in the coming months and will continue to play a critical role in enhancing Polestar’s in-house R&D capabilities.