GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN – 10 November 2025. Polestar’s vision for performance-driven electric mobility is taking a bold new turn into the virtual world, as the Swedish brand confirms its flagship grand tourer, the Polestar 5, will join Gran Turismo 7 for PlayStation 4 and 5. First unveiled to fans at the GT World Series event in Los Angeles, the digital version of the Polestar 5 becomes available to Gran Turismo 7 players worldwide through a free game update in December 2025.
A partnership defined by unprecedented access
To bring the Polestar 5 to life with absolute fidelity, Polestar and Polyphony Digital – the studio behind the acclaimed Gran Turismo franchise – opened doors that are normally kept firmly shut. Both teams were granted unparalleled access to each other’s development environments, allowing engineers, designers and dynamics specialists to collaborate at a level rarely seen between an automaker and a game studio.
Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo Series Producer, highlights the importance of this exchange:
“I have long been impressed by Polestar cars for their advanced, clean, and elegant designs, and so I am delighted to collaborate with them to bring the Polestar 5 to Gran Turismo. It is the first time we have worked together, and it has been a very positive experience. The development team at Polestar put a great deal of care into crafting the car’s driving experience, and so I am sure the players will enjoy the experience of driving it in Gran Turismo.”
Translating real-world dynamics into digital precision
Recreating the Polestar 5’s driving behaviour required more than visual accuracy. Professional racing driver and champion sim-racer Igor Fraga played a pivotal role in bridging the physical and digital worlds. Given exclusive access to prototype Polestar 5 vehicles and Polestar’s R&D teams in Sweden, Fraga provided detailed feedback on everything from chassis balance to pedal feel. Final evaluation took place at the iconic Brands Hatch circuit in England before the car’s virtual attributes were locked in.
Polyphony Digital then integrated this data into its renowned physics and vehicle dynamics model. The result: a digital Polestar 5 that mirrors the real-world machine so closely that lap times set by skilled drivers in-game are directly comparable to those achieved on an actual circuit.
Joakim Rydholm, Head of Driving Dynamics at Polestar, emphasises what this means for players:
“Working with the Gran Turismo team to ensure the digital ‘feel’ of the Polestar 5 was as close as possible to the real thing was a really important step for us. The end result means the digital car 100% replicates the behind-the-wheel experience of the real Polestar 5, meaning GT racers will have just as much fun as buyers of the actual cars.”
A growing partnership with exciting opportunities for fans
With over 100 million sales, the Gran Turismo series remains one of the world’s most respected driving simulators, admired for its technical realism and meticulous detail. The collaboration with Polestar is set to grow over the coming years, beginning with the December 2025 update that introduces the Polestar 5 to Gran Turismo 7’s global player base.
To celebrate the launch, a special Polestar-themed time trial event will run within the game. The top-performing driver will win an exclusive trip to Fukuoka, Japan, where they’ll attend the World Finals of the 2025 GT World Series – a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans of the franchise.
Complementing this will be a documentary film released on Polestar’s YouTube channel, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the Polestar 5 was transformed from a physical prototype into a hyper-realistic digital machine. The documentary will go live alongside the time trial event in December.
Physical meets digital in a defining moment for EV performance
The introduction of the Polestar 5 to Gran Turismo 7 marks more than just an in-game update. It represents a convergence of engineering, artistry and simulation technology—showcasing how modern performance EVs can captivate both real-world drivers and virtual racers.
With a long-term partnership now established, players can expect even deeper collaborations between Polestar and the Gran Turismo franchise in the years to come.
