Driving diary: From Sweden to the Sahara

So then. The greatest grand tour of them all.

Polestar 5 will drive from our headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, all the way to the Sahara Desert in Morocco.

Memories will be made. The unexpected will happen. And throughout the journey, Polestar 5 will deliver a truly unique driving experience.

The tour 

Over the next four weeks, a dozen Polestar 5s will cover 6,000 kilometres across nine territories. 

Along the way, it will travel some of the finest driving roads in the world, crossing a wide range of landscapes and conditions.

This is an adventure we wish you could join us on. So to bring the journey to life, we will share a driving diary here, updating the page as the car makes its way to North Africa.

Gothenburg to Copenhagen

We're off. Gothenburg to the Sahara. What a journey this will be.

Early rise this morning. I have a feeling we'll be saying that a lot over the next four weeks. Light breakfast. About four quick coffees. Cars loaded. We're on the road.

The drive takes us past two of Gothenburg's landmarks. First is Älvsborgsbron in all its mint-green garb. The second is the amusement park Liseberg, which also acts as the city's last stronghold before the open road.

With roller coasters in the rear-view mirror, we roll south. Europe, here we come.

A mere three hours later, we spot the gateway to continental Europe: Öresundsbron, which acts as a drawbridge between the Nordic countries and mainland Europe.

We drive across the bridge and settle into Copenhagen for the night. First day? Done and dusted.

Copenhagen – Hanover

Coffee and caravan towards our next stop: the ferry to Germany.

A short drive later, we run into traffic. A complete three-lane standstill just south of Copenhagen. An accident further up is holding us, and a couple of thousand other cars, at bay. Not the start we wanted. But we'll be back in the open air soon enough.

Driving behind the 5 on the motorway really is a sight to behold.

We're moving again now, but it's a race against the clock to make the ferry. It's leaving... soonish.

Outside the windows, the Danish countryside swooshes by, with the cruise control humming us along at a respectable pace. We arrive just a tad late and, with Scandinavian punctuality being what it is, we'll have to wait for the next ferry.

These things happen. The weather is sunny, so no one is really complaining.

Forty-five minutes later, we're in Germany and the unrestricted Autobahn awaits. Finally, we get to see what almost 900 horsepower can do. It doesn't disappoint.

Hanover is next, with a quick stop in Hamburg where we've scouted a location for a shoot. An industrial bridge with the Elbphilharmonie as the backdrop. Another coffee from a local roastery. Then another drive to Hanover.

That's enough for now.

Hanover to Strasbourg

Surprise, surprise! Early start again. We have a lot of miles to go until the Sahara. So I get the sense there will be a few more early mornings. Still, it is getting warmer.

Our only stop/shoot today is at Frankfurt Airport. Not the easiest location to photograph a car — still, excitement returns when we make our way back onto the Autobahn. The raw performance of the Polestar 5 makes any motorway on-ramp a bit of an event.

Next stop - Strasbourg. Another beautiful European city with a river running through it. A pattern is forming. Car. City. River. Road. I wonder how the landscape will change as the drive goes on?

Strasbourg to Annecy

This is where the scenery begins to change. Fields upon fields begin to be replaced with twisty mountain roads. Then, suddenly, the Alps begin to appear. The snow-crested tops of the mountains cropping up on the distant horizon like waypoints on a map.

There's just something about mountains that fills me with such calmness. I'm in awe of these giants that have been there since the beginning of time and will be here long after we're gone. This leg takes us to Geneva. Surprisingly chaotic to drive in — especially for a city so famous for its obsession with timekeeping. Everyone seems to be in a rush.

Still, the trip must go on. We stop at a bridge in central Geneva to capture some images of the Polestar 5. Chaotic but fun.

What is becoming clear on this mammoth adventure is just how much the temperature will change on our epic drive. Spring arrives earlier in mainland Europe and as time goes on, I am reminded of just how cold and dark Scandinavia can be throughout Winter. My Swedish eyes still haven't gotten used to all the light.

Annecy to Mane

It turns out the scenic part of our drive hadn't even got going properly on my last update. Or it had, but in different ways. I'm stunned. It's as picturesque as you can imagine. Mountain tops, fields with cows, people biking and hiking.

Every corner you turn opens up a new world full of lush greens and mountain tops with the last of the snow hanging on for dear life in the glistening sun. It's also in these corners that the joyful driving starts. 

The serpentine roads lead you down a valley and up a mountain on repeat. Tough day to be Polestar 5 tyres — these corners are sharp and exciting, but the car just grips and grips.

Mane to Nice

Another day, another stunning route. We're about two hours in when we begin our descent towards Nice. The landscape shifts from lush, rolling hills and a clean tree line to something more Mediterranean.

Grey rock formations mixed with year-round pines take hold of the landscape and don't let go. All around us, the rocks rise in what almost looks like waves crashing into each other. These layers upon layers must have formed under extremely violent geological forces, a very long time ago. Today, like most mountains, they are sleeping giants — and they ease my thoughts. There's something comforting in knowing they were here long before me and will be here long after I'm gone.

It's also on this road that you'll find the iconic natural tunnel we've shared on our socials. Next to the road, a turquoise river flows. Each turn the river takes, the road follows. Is nature the best designer? Drive the road and you tell me.

The day ends with us arriving in Nice quite late. Nice is supposed to be nice I'll have to find out for myself some other time.

Nice to Aix-en-Provence

As with every other day, it's an early start. We hit the road and head back towards the magnificent pass we came down yesterday — only this time, we drive it in reverse, uphill. Climbing is personally more fun. Brake later, let the road naturally slow you down, feel the corners grip and sharpen. Peak driving.

After about an hour we take a different exit at a roundabout. The base camp gets set up in a small town plaza. Locals wonder what on earth is going on, but they're curious. We run a Starlink extension cable to the local bakery and start uploading the day's content.

The road after lunch takes us through forests, lavender fields and vineyards. It's glorious. Sometimes you need to put the camera down and just take it in.

Aix-en-Provence - Montpellier

The day starts surrounded by fields in every direction. It's provincial. But even here, charging is easy. After a brief stop we go in search of other essentials — a production road trip like this doesn't run on electricity alone. There's a significant caffeine requirement keeping this particular train on the rails.

After stocking up on Toro Rojo and fruit, we head towards the content hub. The drive takes us along a small road through a misty forest. Then, suddenly, a vineyard appears on our left — and we've made it. 

We've made new friends on this journey. Weeks on the road brought us closer. The car left its mark. So we left one too. As people begin to drop off, they've taken up the pactice of signing one of the cars. I cant wait to see what it looks like at the end of this adventure. 

The sun burns off the last of the mist as we head towards Montpellier. Next stop: some guerrilla-style driving near their Arc de Triomphe. Very beautiful. Very busy. Very Montpellier.

Montpellier - Gibraltar

Over 2,000 kilometres this week. It’s been… intense.

Sometimes the camera says it better than we can. Here are a few moments from the road.

Marrakesh – Ouarzazate

There's a different feeling in the car park this morning. Excitement mixed with anticipation. Perhaps it's carried on the wind from where we're heading.

The landscape around us is beige and red, but in the distance something much larger waits. The Atlas Mountains.

We set off at first light. Scooters carry one passenger too many. Pickup trucks double as buses. As we pass through villages, garage doors roll open, market stalls appear, and mint tea is poured from impressive heights into waiting cups.

Then the climb begins.

The road winds upwards towards Tizi n'Tichka, the highest major mountain pass in North Africa. Overloaded trucks crawl uphill. Sheep, dogs and cats seem to have right of way. With every kilometre, the landscape changes.

Even after a month on the road, it feels like the real adventure might only be starting now.

At 2,260 metres, the summit couldn't feel further from Gothenburg. One side of the mountain is rugged and grey. The other bursts with greens, yellows and reds. Colourful ceramic and textile shops line the descent.

Beyond the mountains, the greenery begins to fade. The rugged landscape shifts from grey to red. You can tell we’re heading towards the Sahara. As we enter the Telouet Valley, houses built from local stone blend into the cliffsides and a river carves a ribbon of green through the landscape.

After lunch, we stop for our final shoot of the day and are immediately greeted by three friendly local puppies. A few head scratches later and everyone is discussing how practical it would be to bring them home.
As evening approaches, rock slowly gives way to sand.

The Sahara is getting closer.  And with it, the feeling that the adventure is only just beginning. 

Merzouga

It’s D-day. Today we go as far south as this trip will take us. After today, we turn around.

The day starts with a minor mishap. One of the support vehicles has a flat tyre. You'd assume it was caused by the roads that brought us here. In reality, a nail from the hotel car park has lodged itself in the left rear tyre. A quick repair later and we're back on the road.

The Atlas Mountains slowly fade into the rear-view mirror as the landscape flattens out. Villages become smaller. The temperature climbs.

Kids run to the roadside as the convoy passes. They wave, smile and stare. Some make a gesture we've seen a lot on this trip: a quick flick of the hand, as if they've touched something hot. The same gesture your teammate makes after you've just nutmegged someone in football.

The scenery changes again. Grey rock replaces green valleys. Heat shimmers above the road ahead.

Then a voice crackles over the radio.

"Look boys. It's the finish line."

At first it's just a blur on the horizon. Then it reveals itself. Vast. Orange. Endless.

The Sahara.

After 6,000 kilometres, we've made it.

We meet our guide and head towards the dunes. Driving on loose sand isn't exactly what the Polestar 5 was designed for, but careful throttle inputs and surprisingly capable tyres get us there without drama.

At 38°C, we begin our photoshoot.

Maybe it's the sweeping lines of the car. Maybe it's the way the dunes have been sculpted by the same wind. Whatever the reason, the Polestar 5 looks remarkably at home here.

Then the weather turns.

A sandstorm rolls across the horizon and suddenly we're racing against the light. The photographers want to stay. None of us have ever seen conditions quite like this. The low sun illuminates the airborne sand, turning the desert into one giant moving softbox.

But the rule is simple: no driving in the dark.

Reluctantly, we leave.

The drive back is quiet. Apart from the wind and the sound of sand hitting the bodywork, nobody says much. We all know what this means.

We've reached the end.

Ouarzazate

The following morning brings one final stop: Noor Power Station.

The weather couldn't be more different. Dark clouds hang over the desert and lightning flashes ahead of us. Rain begins to fall. Dry riverbeds suddenly fill with water and roads become streams.

Morocco continues to surprise us.

In the distance, a bright point appears on the horizon. Noor III.

Standing 250 metres tall and surrounded by roughly two million mirrors spread across 3,000 hectares, it is the world's largest concentrated solar power plant.

As we approach, the top of the tower appears to be on fire. Thousands of mirrors concentrate sunlight onto a single point, creating a glowing beacon visible for miles. The resemblance to Sauron's Eye is difficult to ignore.

After filming, we stop to charge.

The charger is connected directly to the power station. For the first time on this trip, the connection feels tangible. Sunlight collected from the desert around us is flowing directly into the cars beside us.

A fitting final charge.

With full batteries, we point the convoy west towards Marrakesh. The late afternoon sun sits low on the horizon. The Atlas Mountains wait ahead.

We're heading home.

We're finished.