How Polestar and Gran Turismo brought the Polestar 5 into the virtual world

Polestar 5 joins Gran Turismo 7 in December update Photo credit: Polestar The Polestar 5 will officially arrive in Gran Turismo 7 through a free software update in December 2025. The car’s inclusion was announced during the Gran Turismo World Series event in Los Angeles, marking the first collaboration between Polestar and Polyphony Digital, the Sony Interactive Entertainment studio responsible for the racing simulation franchise. This addition brings the Swedish electric grand tourer to a global gaming audience, aligning with Polestar’s ongoing efforts to blend design, performance, and digital technology. Development of the digital Polestar 5 involved direct cooperation between both companies’ engineering teams. Polestar provided Polyphony Digital with access to its technical data and prototype development information, enabling the creation of an accurate in-game representation. The collaboration extended to on-site visits and testing sessions, which ensured that the digital model accurately mirrored the dynamics of the real-world car. For Polyphony Digital, this project continues the studio’s focus on precision simulation. The Polestar 5’s addition supports Gran Turismo 7’s established reputation for detailed vehicle modeling and data-based performance behavior. For Polestar, the digital counterpart provides both an engineering benchmark and a marketing tool, demonstrating the company’s technical alignment with advanced simulation technology. Simulating reality: Collaboration between Polestar and Polyphony Digital Photo credit: Polestar According to Polestar and Polyphony Digital, the collaboration was structured as a joint technical exchange. Each side contributed data, facilities, and personnel toward the digital recreation of the Polestar 5. Engineers from Polestar’s R&D division worked closely with Polyphony Digital’s vehicle dynamics team to ensure that both the exterior design and handling behavior were accurately represented within the Gran Turismo 7 engine. The project included participation from professional driver and Gran Turismo champion Igor Fraga. Fraga spent time driving the physical Polestar 5 prototype in Sweden and at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom. His feedback on handling, steering response, and weight distribution was incorporated into the simulator’s performance model, allowing the virtual version to more closely resemble its real-world counterpart. Polestar’s Head of Driving Dynamics, Joakim Rydholm, stated that the initiative provided useful engineering feedback for Polestar’s chassis development process. The company used simulation data to verify real-world performance modeling, demonstrating how gaming technology can assist with automotive engineering tasks. Precision and performance tested through simulation Photo credit: Polestar The Polestar 5’s in-game performance reflects data derived directly from the company’s prototype testing. Polyphony Digital used telemetry and engineering inputs to calibrate the car’s acceleration, cornering balance, and braking response. This approach was designed to ensure that player feedback in Gran Turismo 7 aligns closely with the sensations drivers experience in the actual vehicle. Development testing took place in both virtual and physical environments. Rydholm and his team used the collaboration to analyze differences between simulated and real-world lap times. According to Polestar, the data correlation was close enough to validate the accuracy of its modeling processes. Polyphony Digital used this same information to finalize the car’s digital tuning within the game’s framework. This process reflects a broader trend in the automotive industry, where simulation increasingly supplements traditional prototype testing. For manufacturers like Polestar, access to detailed virtual modeling allows earlier design validation, potentially reducing development costs and lead times. The Polestar 5 as a digital design showcase Photo credit: Polestar The Polestar 5 serves as the brand’s flagship electric grand tourer, representing the company’s latest design direction. In Gran Turismo 7, the car is rendered with high fidelity, highlighting its minimalist aesthetic and aerodynamic form. The in-game model emphasizes surface quality, lighting reflection, and subtle details that replicate Polestar’s physical design philosophy. For Polestar, inclusion in Gran Turismo 7 extends beyond entertainment. The game functions as a global display platform, exposing the vehicle to millions of players who can interact with the car’s form and dynamics in detail. This visibility supports Polestar’s long-term strategy of using digital media to reinforce its design identity and promote electric performance vehicles to a broader audience. Polyphony Digital has historically emphasized design accuracy in its car modeling, and the Polestar 5 continues this pattern. The digital recreation mirrors real-world proportions, lighting behavior, and surface reflections, achieved through extensive 3D scanning and material data sharing between both companies. Integration and launch details Photo credit: Polestar The Polestar 5 will be introduced in Gran Turismo 7 as part of a December 2025 content update, available to players on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles. The update will include a Polestar-branded time trial event, which invites participants to compete for the fastest lap time using the Polestar 5. The winner of this event will receive a trip to Fukuoka, Japan, to attend the 2025 Gran Turismo World Series World Finals. A short film documenting the car’s integration process will be released on Polestar’s official YouTube channel. The film will feature both the digital and physical Polestar 5, detailing the collaborative workflow between Polestar and Polyphony Digital. Additional media content, including a launch video, will accompany the release. The time trial and video launch coincide with Polestar’s broader strategy to engage audiences through digital interaction. These projects combine the company’s engineering narrative with accessible entertainment media, serving both promotional and research functions. Polestar’s use of simulation for engineering verification Photo credit: Polestar Polestar’s participation in this project extends beyond promotional intent. The automaker has incorporated simulation as part of its engineering toolkit for several years, and the Gran Turismo 7 collaboration offered an additional validation opportunity. By comparing in-game physics data with telemetry from the physical Polestar 5, engineers could evaluate the consistency of their chassis and suspension models. This process allowed the development team to identify potential areas where digital models diverged from real-world results. For instance, minor adjustments in tire modeling or power delivery curves were tested to ensure both digital and physical outputs aligned. These comparisons supported Polestar’s goal of refining the precision of its virtual engineering systems. Polyphony Digital, in turn, benefited from access to manufacturer-level data. Such collaborations improve the studio’s ability to simulate high-performance electric vehicles accurately, a category that presents different challenges compared with internal combustion cars due to instant torque and regenerative braking dynamics. Expanding Polestar’s digital footprint Photo credit: Polestar The Polestar 5’s appearance in Gran Turismo 7 forms part of a larger initiative by the company to maintain a presence in both real and virtual environments. With sales in 28 global markets and manufacturing operations in multiple regions, Polestar is emphasizing its connection between advanced technology, sustainability, and user engagement. As Polestar continues to expand its lineup—which includes the Polestar 2, 3, 4, and upcoming 6 and 7 models—the use of simulation and gaming platforms provides a means to reach consumers in non-traditional ways. The Gran Turismo 7 partnership exemplifies how the company integrates engineering precision with digital culture. For Gran Turismo, adding a new electric performance brand reinforces its reputation for authenticity and technical depth. The Polestar 5 contributes to the simulator’s growing list of contemporary electric vehicles, ensuring players have access to a broader representation of current automotive design and performance trends.