Bowers & Wilkins Put the ‘Performance’ in Polestar 5

Polestar has officially revealed its most ambitious car yet, the Polestar 5 four-door performance Grand Tourer. While its 650 kW output and bonded aluminium chassis underline its credentials as a serious driver’s car, it is the in-cabin audio that will catch the ear of audio enthusiasts. The Swedish EV brand has partnered with Bowers & Wilkins to create a 21-speaker, 1,680-watt sound system that turns the Polestar 5 into a moving concert hall — albeit one with seat belts.

First shown as the Precept concept in 2020, Polestar 5 faithfully carries the brand’s minimalist design into production with a wing-like profile, panoramic glass roof, and sustainable materials throughout. Inside, the Grand Tourer mixes Scandinavian restraint with cutting-edge digital integration — and at its heart, an audio system designed for true hi-fi performance on the move.

Michael Lohscheller, Polestar CEO, told StereoNET:

“Polestar 5 is bringing the future to our present. With its Scandinavian design, unique platform, powerful motors, and cutting-edge technology, it is the perfect flagship for our brand.”

The Bowers & Wilkins upgrade builds on the standard 10-speaker Polestar system with a layout inspired by the brand’s studio and home audio expertise. The configuration features Nautilus-derived Double-Dome tweeters, including a dashboard-mounted Tweeter-on-Top, with placement optimised for the Polestar 5’s cabin geometry. Laser-line ambient lighting doubles as a soundbar behind the rear seats, while Active Road Noise Cancellation ensures music playback remains as pure as possible — or at least until the kids crank up HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters at full tilt.

We’ve already seen Polestar leverage this partnership — the Polestar 3 introduced an Abbey Road Studios “Mode,” as reported here. The Polestar 5 extends that collaboration, suggesting the carmaker sees premium audio as integral to its flagship positioning.

At the centre of the cabin sits a 14.5-inch portrait display running Polestar’s Android Automotive OS with Google built in. Drivers gain full voice control through Google Assistant, intelligent navigation with Google Maps, and access to hundreds of in-car apps via the Google Play Store. Apple CarPlay will be introduced via a future update, while over-the-air upgrades ensure the system evolves over time. The integration with Google Home devices also means you can set your living room lights or thermostat from the driveway — the modern equivalent of saying “Honey, I’m home.”

Digital keys, personalised driver profiles, and seamless app integration further underscore Polestar’s intent to make its GT as connected as it is powerful.

Beneath the elegant bodywork lies a hot-cured bonded aluminium platform with torsional rigidity that reportedly exceeds many supercars. The Performance variant produces 650 kW and 1,015 Nm, which firmly puts it in serious performance car territory — only this one comes with four seats, a panoramic roof, and even a glove box. Supported by an 800 V electrical system that allows 350 kW charging, the Polestar 5 sprints from 0–100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds while still behaving like a proper Grand Tourer.

The Polestar 5 is available now, starting at €119,900 for the Dual Motor and €142,900 for the Performance. Deliveries are expected to begin in key European markets later this year, with global rollout to follow.

For More Information Visit Bowers & Wilkins