New Polestar 5 Performance EV Launching in Gran Turismo 7 Video Game
Collaboration looks to translate the car’s dynamic driving experience into the popular race simulator…
Polestar, the Swedish electric performance brand, is introducing its new Polestar 5 into the Gran Turismo 7 video game for PlayStation 4 and 5. Showcased to fans at the recent GT World Series event in Los Angeles, the Polestar 5 officially launches in Gran Turismo 7 in December.
Both Polestar and Polyphony Digital, a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, granted each other access to their development facilities and teams as part of the collaboration, according to a press release. The result was both brands working together to create an accurate digital representation of the Polestar 5.
“I have long been impressed by Polestar cars for their advanced, clean and elegant designs, 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,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, Gran Turismo series producer. “The development team at Polestar put a great deal of care into crafting the car’s driving experience and I am sure the players will enjoy the experience of driving it in Gran Turismo.”
Real-World Testing Enhances In-Game Experience
Working closely with professional race driver and sim-racer Igor Fraga, known for his experience and competitive lap times in Gran Turismo, the teams looked to faithfully translate the dynamic qualities of the Polestar 5 into the game. Fraga was given access to prototype Polestar 5 vehicles and R&D experts at the company’s development facilities in Sweden before final sign-off at the Brands Hatch circuit in England.
The experts at Polyphony Digital then applied that real-world vehicle feedback to their class-leading handling and dynamics simulation, creating a precise digital representation of the car. With the right person behind the wheel, lap times in-game and in real life are directly comparable.
“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,” said Joakim Rydholm, head of driving dynamics at Polestar. “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.”
The Gran Turismo franchise is regarded as one of the most visually and dynamically accurate driving simulators available, officials stated, recently surpassing 100 million sales of the series. Polestar’s partnership with Polyphony Digital is set to continue over multiple years. A special Polestar time trial event will take place in Gran Turismo 7, where the winner will receive an exclusive trip to Fukuoka, Japan, to attend the World Finals of the 2025 GT World Series.
A documentary film showcasing the collaboration between physical and digital Polestar 5s will be available on Polestar’s YouTube channel when the time trial goes live.
