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Polestar 5 and Gran Turismo: Turning the physical to digital

Ever wondered what it’s like to take the wheel of a 650 kW all-electric performance GT on one of the world’s most iconic racetracks? With the Polestar 5 now making its debut in Gran Turismo 7, that wait is over.

Few names in gaming capture the spirit of car culture quite like Gran Turismo. Since its debut on the original PlayStation console in 1997, the series has become a staple of every car enthusiast’s collection, translating the passion for performance onto a digital track.

So when the time came for Polestar 5 to join the car collection in Gran Turismo 7, we knew we wanted to do something a little special for ourselves and for car fans.

Performance and dynamics are at the very core of Polestar’s DNA. The Polestar 5 represents the absolute zenith of what we can achieve in driver engagement. Translating this to Gran Turismo, a PlayStation gaming series known for its incredible eye for detail, meant we wanted to give developer Polyphony Digital the best possible data to work with.

There are very few people who can drive incredibly quickly in real life and in a game. Igor Fraga, a Japanese-born Brazilian racing driver, is one of those select few.

Racing driver with black and yellow Polestar helmet
Polestar 5 on track

Igor currently competes at the pinnacle of motorsport in Japan: the Super Formula Championship. It's open-wheel racing with 600hp cars and huge amounts of downforce. But Igor is also a Gran Turismo pro, with a trophy cabinet just as full of digital prizes as of physical ones.

With victories across both real and virtual circuits, Igor became our "digital test driver". Joining us at our development facility in Sweden, he began testing a prototype Polestar 5, gathering data and pushing the car to its limits.

This was just the start. We needed a reference point for the car, which existed in both the real and gaming worlds. The Brands Hatch circuit was selected. This meant maximum accuracy for testing.

Over two days, the Polestar 5 was put through its paces. On-board footage, telemetry, and Igor’s detailed feedback gave Polyphony Digital everything they needed to mirror the car’s behaviour with precision.

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Then the journey continued to Tokyo, Japan, where Igor tested development versions of the Polestar 5 at Polyphony Digital's HQ, feeding back his thoughts on the car's handling and dynamics to eager game developers and engineers.

Tweaks were made. More data, more finesse. And the result? A digital reflection of the Polestar 5, as thrilling to drive in-game as it is in real life.

Want to try it for yourself? The Polestar 5 will be available to play in Gran Turismo 7 from December.

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