Polestar 5 joins Gran Turismo 7 lineup in December update

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Polestar’s flagship electric grand tourer, the Polestar 5, will be added to Gran Turismo 7 through a free software update scheduled for December 2025. The vehicle made its first public appearance within the game environment during the Gran Turismo World Series event held in Los Angeles, marking the start of a formal collaboration between the Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer and Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Partnership and development process

Polestar and Polyphony Digital jointly developed the virtual representation of the Polestar 5. According to both companies, the collaboration involved an unusually high degree of technical data sharing and mutual access to their respective research and development facilities. This arrangement allowed engineers from both organizations to work on achieving an accurate digital model of the car’s design and dynamic characteristics.

The process included participation from professional racing driver and sim racer Igor Fraga, known for his involvement in competitive Gran Turismo events. Fraga was granted access to prototype versions of the Polestar 5 and spent time at the company’s Swedish development facilities. The final tuning of the in-game model was conducted at England’s Brands Hatch circuit. Fraga’s real-world feedback was used by Polyphony Digital to calibrate handling and performance parameters within Gran Turismo 7.

Joakim Rydholm, Polestar’s Head of Driving Dynamics, said the project’s goal was to ensure that the digital car mirrors the behavior of the physical vehicle. The development emphasized replicating driving feel and responsiveness, areas central to Polestar’s engineering identity. Polyphony Digital applied that data to its simulation framework, which the company claims can produce lap times comparable between the digital and physical cars under identical conditions.

Comments from project leaders

Kazunori Yamauchi, the long-time producer of the Gran Turismo series, described the collaboration as the first between his studio and Polestar. He cited the brand’s minimalist design and technical focus as complementary to Gran Turismo’s simulation goals. Yamauchi said the Polestar development team was careful about translating the driving experience for virtual use, and he expressed confidence that players would appreciate the authenticity of the result.

Rydholm stated that the exercise of integrating the Polestar 5 into a simulator environment served an engineering purpose beyond the gaming collaboration. By comparing digital and physical performance data, Polestar’s development team was able to test the fidelity of its chassis modeling, a process aligned with the company’s use of advanced simulation in real-world vehicle testing.

The Polestar 5 will be introduced into Gran Turismo 7 for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms as part of a free December 2025 update. Alongside the vehicle’s addition, a Polestar-branded time trial competition will be hosted within the game. The event will award the fastest participant with a trip to Fukuoka, Japan, where they will attend the 2025 Gran Turismo World Series World Finals.

The collaboration also includes a short documentary that will be published on Polestar’s official YouTube channel when the time trial launches. The film will outline the process of creating the digital Polestar 5, featuring both real and simulated vehicles. Polestar has also released a launch video accompanying the announcement.

Broader context

The partnership reflects a growing overlap between the automotive industry and simulation-based development. Manufacturers increasingly use gaming technology to validate vehicle models and test driver interfaces before physical production. For Gran Turismo, which has surpassed 100 million units sold since its debut in 1997, automaker collaborations serve to expand the realism of its car roster while allowing brands to present products to an engaged driving-oriented audience.

Polestar’s participation aligns with its broader strategy of combining digital innovation with sustainability goals. As a subsidiary of Volvo Car Group, the company has positioned itself as a technology-focused electric performance brand with global reach. The inclusion of the Polestar 5 in a major racing simulator provides an additional platform for the automaker to demonstrate its design and engineering approach.

Polestar corporate overview

Polestar Automotive Holding UK plc, traded on Nasdaq under the symbol PSNY, operates as an independent Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Gothenburg. The company’s portfolio currently includes the Polestar 2 liftback sedan, Polestar 3 SUV, Polestar 4 crossover coupe, and the newly introduced Polestar 5 grand tourer. Upcoming products include the Polestar 6 roadster and Polestar 7 compact SUV.

Polestar vehicles are sold in 28 markets across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The automaker’s North American operations are based in the greater New York City area, with “Polestar Spaces” — retail environments resembling showrooms — operating in more than 30 U.S. metropolitan markets.

Manufacturing currently takes place in North America and Asia. Future expansion plans include establishing European production for the Polestar 7 model. The company’s long-term environmental roadmap calls for a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle sold by 2030 and achieving full climate neutrality across its value chain by 2040. This plan encompasses four strategic areas: climate, transparency, circularity, and inclusion.

Conclusion

The addition of the Polestar 5 to Gran Turismo 7 reflects both companies’ focus on realism and simulation accuracy. The collaboration provides Gran Turismo players access to a digital version of Polestar’s new electric grand tourer while serving as a marketing and engineering exercise for the Swedish automaker. The ongoing partnership, including future in-game events and media projects, indicates that Polestar intends to maintain a digital presence within the Gran Turismo ecosystem beyond the December 2025 update.

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