Polestar’s road to launching the 5 has been anything but swift. Over two and a half years after its prototype debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Volvo offshoot that’s primarily owned by China’s Geely is still putting its Porsche Taycan rival through its paces, with recent spy shots from Scandinavia offering a glimpse at its progress.

We’re not sure why Polestar has bothered to clad the car in camouflage, given the finished design has already been revealed. Nevertheless, there’s no denying this will be the sleekest model in their line-up while maintaining plenty of Polestar design elements, making it easily recognizable.

Read: 2025 Polestar 5 Revealed, Aims To Be The New Electric Benchmark With 872 HP

The front fascia features a pair of split headlights with sharp DRLs that catch the eye, as does the small black grille and black splitter. As there’s no engine up front, the hood sits particularly low and does wonders for the overall look of the EV. This prototype can also be seen rocking a set of black wheels and massive carbon ceramic brakes, hinting at its performance focus.

Other parts of the 5’s design that stand out include the door handles, which sit flush with the bodywork, and a huge panoramic glass roof that stops just right where a traditional rear window would be, much like the Polestar 4. It also has sharp LED taillights, a light bar, and a tow bar.

Power and Performance

A couple of years ago, Polestar said the 5 would hit the market with a pair of electric motors delivering 872 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if these figures change slightly when the model hits the market, particularly since Porsche and Audi have boosted the power outputs for the facelifted RS e-tron GT and Taycan models.

Whatever the final horsepower and torque figures end up being, the 5 will be the brand’s quickest model as it should be capable of running 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in around 3 seconds, if not slightly quicker.

Charging technology might be another ace up its sleeve. Polestar is experimenting with StoreDot’s ultra-fast-charging batteries, which promise 100 miles of range from just five minutes of charging. Whether this cutting-edge tech makes it to the final product remains to be seen.

Baldauf

No, this isn’t Polestar’s next model, but instead, it’s the winner of the carmaker’s annual Design Contest, which was held in collaboration with Hot Wheels. The winning design, known as the Polestar TRX, is a futuristic pickup truck that will spawn a real-life Hot Wheels 1:64 scale model.

Most would agree that the electric Tesla Cybertruck has taken pickup truck design to a place we’d never thought we’d see. However, the TRX pushes the boundaries even further, although it does look perfect for a Hot Wheels car. The rugged truck sits on a set of massive wheels and has vast amounts of ground clearance, ensuring it’s well-suited to speeding around a Hot Wheels track and catching some serious hang time.

Read: Entry-Level Polestar 3 Combines RWD With $67,500 Price Tag

The slim bodywork of the TRX features a slim and sharp front fascia with LED daytime running lights reminiscent of other Polestar models. The cabin is exceptionally low but as it’s a concept, Indian designer Shashank Shekhar did not need to make it practical. Out back is a long bed large enough to store a pair of surfboards.

“I’m thrilled to win,” Sheshank Shekhar said. “This will be the first design in my career to be produced, so it’s a big deal for me. I never thought that someday, something I have created would end up as a Hot Wheels car. It has been a great journey, and I’ve had an amazing time so far. Something like this gives you a lot of confidence as a young designer.”

Polestar gave the runner-up to the Cyber Shaker created by Italian designer Powei Chen. It has a dramatic multi-colored design with purple DRLs and an ultra-aggressive stance. The third concept you see is a classic Le Mans-inspired car designed by Roman Moor and was given an honorable mention.

It’s unclear if Polestar will create a life-size one-off based on the TRX, but last year, it took the three winning designs from the 2022 contest and combined them to craft the Synergy concept, presenting it at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Germany.  

Hot on the heels of Polestar starting production of the entry-level, single-motor 3 in the US at its Charleston, South Carolina facility, the electric carmaker has announced new financing and lease deals for some of the higher-end models. While Polestar is in a little bit of turmoil, the 3 is a compelling option for those in the market for a high-end electric SUV.

American customers eyeing the 2025 Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor with the Pilot Standard Pack can now lease one for $599 per month over 36 months. However, this excludes a hefty $5,599 down payment. When factoring in this upfront cost, the effective monthly payment rises to $755, with mileage capped at 10,000 miles per year.

Read: Polestar Says Biden’s China Tech Ban Would Make It Impossible To Sell Even US-Built Models In America

Over the life of the lease, this works out to be $27,163. Previously, this version of the Polestar 3 had commanded $699 per month for 36 months.

Of course, these are the advertised rates, so your mileage may vary depending on your haggling skills, the dealership’s flexibility, your ability to negotiate a lower capitalized cost (negotiated price of the car, including fees), and whether you can secure a more favorable money factor (interest rate). As always, persistence and careful negotiation can make a significant difference in the final cost of a lease.

One key reason shoppers may lean toward leasing rather than outright purchasing the Polestar 3 is the $7,500 lease cash currently available. This contrasts with its ineligibility for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit when purchased outright, despite the fact that the model is manufactured in the U.S.

0% Financing

Polestar has also rolled out a new financing offer for the electric SUV, which might be a better deal if you want to keep the car. A bulletin recently sent to dealers reveals it’s eligible for 0% financing for 60 months for all variants, excluding the new single-motor version. Cars Direct says the financing rate had previously been sent at 6.99%, meaning buyers can now benefit from $15,000 in savings. Both the new lease and financing deals run until January 2, 2025.

Specs and Pricing

Pricing for the dual-motor Polestar 3 starts at $73,400 (excluding destination). This model pairs a 111 kWh battery pack with two electric motors, producing a combined 489 horsepower and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque. The setup delivers an EPA-estimated range of 315 miles (507 km) on a full charge.

For those wanting more luxury and performance, Polestar offers a $78,900 version of the Long Range Dual Motor model, which includes the Plus Pack. This adds premium features such as heated rear seats, a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and 21-inch wheels.

The Polestar 3 family also includes the Long Range Dual Motor w/Pilot and Performance Pack, and the Long Range Dual Motor w/Pilot, Plus Pack, and Performance Pack, priced from $79,400 and $84,900, respectively.

The Polestar 3 lineup is expanding as the company has begun building a new entry-level variant in Charleston, South Carolina. Known as the Long Range Single Motor, the latest version of the electric crossover starts at $67,500 before a $1,400 destination fee.

That’s $5,900 less than the dual-motor all-wheel drive variant and the good news doesn’t end there as the entry-level model has an EPA range of up to 350 miles (563 km/h). That’s 35 miles (56 km) more than its counterpart.

More: Polestar 3 Deliveries Begin As New RWD Variant Debuts

However, there are some obvious tradeoffs as the crossover has a rear-mounted motor producing 295 hp (220 kW / 299 PS) and 361 lb-ft (489 Nm) of torque. This results in a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 7.5 seconds. When it comes time to replenish the 111 kWh battery pack, a 250 kW DC fast charger can take it from a 10-80% charge in as little as 30 minutes.

The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor comes nicely equipped with LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and acoustic windows. They’re joined by a panoramic glass roof, a power liftgate, and 20-inch wheels.

Moving inside, drivers will find a 9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch infotainment system. Other highlights include eight-way power heated front seats, a tri-zone climate control system, a wireless smartphone charger, and a 10-speaker audio system.

An assortment of driver assistance systems come standard including Pilot Assist, Lane Change Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Blind Spot Information with Steer Assist. Buyers will also find Lane Departure Warning, Road Sign Information, and Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation.

An assortment of options are available including a $5,500 Plus Pack that adds a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The package also includes soft-close doors, a power-adjustable steering column, and a foldable load floor.

 The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor will also be offered in Europe where it will have a WLTP range of up to 438 miles (706 km). German pricing starts at €79,890 while Brits will need to shell out £69,900.

The Biden administration’s plan to ban Chinese tech is designed to keep America safe, but it could end up putting domestic jobs at risk. Polestar says the proposal could “effectively prohibit” sales of its cars in the US – including models built in America by American workers.

Washington’s lawmakers are concerned that smart cars containing Chinese hardware and software pose a security threat to the US and must be kept out. But Geely-owned Polestar’s comments to the US Commerce Department unearthed by Reuters serve as a reminder that Chinese cars, which we often think of as a looming force, are already on sale in the US, and in some cases part of the fabric of the US economy.

Related: Lincoln’s Best-Selling Vehicle Could Be Banned In America

Polestar, which claims only 280 of its 2,800 employees work in China, and that 70 percent of its directors are either from the US or Europe, doesn’t only build cars in China, but also in South Korea and has just begun production of the 3 SUV in South Carolina, providing work for hundreds of Americans. Sister brand Volvo, which shares the Ridgeville SC site and makes its cars from the same component set as Polestar, is also at risk from the proposals.

Cars assembled in South Carolina are exempt from steep duties recently placed on vehicles imported from China, but could theoretically become unsaleable in the US unless some exemption is made.

Polestar said the US Commerce Department “should consider whether a rule that effectively shuts down the operations of a lawfully organized U.S. company with substantial U.S. investments and so many personnel and key decision-making units in friendly nations and the United States is appropriately tailored to address the stated national security concerns,” Reuters reports.

Ford, whose Lincoln Nautilus also falls foul of the rule (as does GM’s Buick Envision) urged the Commerce Department to ensure cars are only prohibited from sale based on their hardware and software, and not because of where they’re assembled.