Polestar has previewed its future design direction by revealing a concept car designed as the physical manifestation of the brand’s Formula 2030 strategy. The Formula 2030 concept is the first show car created under the leadership of Head of Design Philipp Römers to remove the unnecessary and improve what remains—and the evolved values that define the brand.

“It is a physical embodiment of how we apply Polestar‘s core values of design, performance and sustainability to the next production cars,” said Römers. “A bold evolution of our already well-established design DNA to strengthen the brand‘s positioning with performance at its heart.”

The Formula 2030 concept car made its global debut during the recent media drive of the Polestar 4 SUV, one of the cars that influenced the concept’s form.

 

‘Low-slung practicality’ and ‘UFO-esque rear’

Polestar says that the compact, practical, four-door sports car sits within its own segment, at 4680 mm (194.3 in) long, 2021 mm (79.6 in) wide, with a 2780-mm (109.4-in) wheelbase, and a notably low roof height of just 1350 mm (53.1 in)– which is even lower than that of the Polestar 5 grand tourer. The dimensions position the concept between the forthcoming Polestar 2 and Polestar 7, and draw on the recently launched Polestar 4’s “low-slung practicality.”

Viewed from the side, the proportions are a modern evolution of the classic cab-rearward stance set into powerful rear haunches, with a long hood, short overhangs, and 22-in wheels being highlights. In plan view, the typical Polestar coke-bottle hips and power visually weighted to the rear are evident.

In front, the Dual Blade headlights provide a recognizable Polestar character and preview the Polestar 2 design planned for 2027. Their integration into a front aero wing is inspired by the Polestar 3. The shark nose front has a deep front splitter anchored to the body through a central spine.

Continuing the central spine is a vertically oriented, motorsport-inspired windscreen wiper mounted on a visor-like wraparound windscreen that pays homage to the first-generation Polestar 2. A lidar unit, hidden beneath an aerodynamic shroud when not in use, is revealed when a driver selects the concept car’s autonomous drive capabilities. Behind the lidar sits a Polestar guiding star symbol projected into the panoramic glass roof.

On the “UFO-esque” rear, the biggest departure from recent Polestar design, the lightbar is replaced by Single Blade rear lights, introduced ahead of series production. The rearward down-the-road graphic is said to be a bold evolution of the previous geometric shape and sharp angles.

Like the front windshield, the rear glass looks to wrap around the car into the shallow side glazing, intersected only by the strong C-pillar running from powerful rear haunches into the roof. The upper rear wing is fixed centrally, while the lower rear diffuser points to “the considered” aerodynamics and downforce.

“We wanted to evolve, while respecting, the core design values we demonstrated with previous models that define the Polestar brand in such a recognizable way,” said Nahum Escobedo, Head of Exterior Design at Polestar. “And with Formula 2030, with its clear Polestar design attributes like the Dual Blade headlights, wraparound visor-like windscreen, and powerful haunches, we have done just that. But we’ve pushed perceptions, preconceptions, and the expected as well, with our considered choices in form language, amplification of the performance topic, and new detailing like the Single Blade rear lights.”

 

Nitrogen colors, materials, and finishes

The Nitrogen exterior color, which is specific to the concept and designed to react dynamically to natural light, flows over the body, 22-in center-lock four-spoke wheels, side cladding, front splitter, and rear aero diffuser. Variations of gloss, matte, and satin finishes highlight individual components.

Swedish Gold, the brand’s Performance signature, is found on the Brembo brake calipers, valve caps, interior detailing, and seat belts as a strong accent.

“With the Formula 2030 concept, we knew we had to do something that stands out, but we had to do it in a true Polestar way,” said Maria Uggla, Head of Color, Material, and Finishes at Polestar. “The resulting ‘tone in tone’ treatment flows effortlessly between interior and exterior, feeling deeply rooted in our Scandinavian minimalist aesthetic in an unexpected and unseen way.”

The concept represents the next step in Polestar’s charge towards designing with sustainable materials and circularity in mind. Continued development of the mono-material strategy is evidenced by the interior of the doors offering full recyclability.

This is combined with exposed structural interior parts such as the seat frame and cross-car beam made from low-emissions galvanized steel. This is achieved using recycled raw material and renewable energy that, based on research, is one of the most impactful ways to achieve climate neutrality in the future, according to Polestar.

Opposing doors open for pillarless, easy access to the four seats in the spacious but performance-focused cabin where the “tone in tone” theme continues with subtle transitions across different surfaces and textures. The seat back is made from a bio-based composite replacing traditional virgin plastics that combines European flax and bio-based polypropylene in a grid weave and color inspired by the fields that provide the raw material.

Lifting the rear clamshell for access to the luggage area, the body structure is deliberately exposed, showcasing Bcomp’s natural fiber composite with Polestar’s signature weave and race-inspired Öhlins dampers. Beneath the transparent trunk floor, custom Polestar travel bags are secured with Swedish Gold luggage straps.

The front luggage compartment, which provides dedicated space for race helmets and a fire extinguisher, is framed by a Swedish Gold strut brace.

 

Interior more physical and less digital

The concept’s performance-focused cockpit is concentrated toward the driver. The 20-in HyperDIM, a curved driver information monitor, is mounted directly to the steering column to ensure the best UI. The 12.2-in CSD (center screen display) is integrated into the gently rising center console and is designed to emphasize the importance of the driver’s position as the primary one in the vehicle.

A horizontal interior band, similar to other Polestar production cars, wraps around the driver before flowing through the rest of the cabin and is bathed in indirect lighting. These design attributes are said to point toward future Polestar interiors.

The four individual seats have air-inflatable bolsters and cushions to provide each occupant with optimum lateral and longitudinal support and are positioned low in the cabin to provide a performance-focused position.

The three drive modes—Performance, Normal, and Autonomous—are selected by sliding a selector on the center console, with the physical attitude of the CSD and driving position reflecting the mode. In Autonomous mode, the CSD is upright to provide easily readable information, and the seat and steering wheel move away from each other as the vehicle takes more control. As the driver moves through Normal to Performance mode, the CSD lowers further or sits flush into the surface while the steering wheel (and HyperDIM) move closer to the driver, optimizing for enthusiastic driving.

Polestar is committed to rebalancing the mix of more physical and less digital controls with additions below the CSD. Entirely customizable, both physically (users can choose from different types, such as rocker switches or rotary controllers) and digitally, the eight controls provide quicker and easier access to the most used functions. Individual hot keys can also be programmed to provide user-defined functions.

“With the Formula 2030 concept, we’re reducing the unnecessary, distilling the experience to its very essence, and enhancing the elements that truly matter to set the tonality and ambition for future Polestar interiors,” said Juan Pablo Bernal, Head of Interior Design at Polestar. “As a performance brand, we see a renewed focus on the driver, and so we re-balance the digital and physical. We introduce physical buttons and controls, and we believe we have achieved a tactile harmony suited for our premium positioning.”

The UX and UI experience of Formula 2030, both physically and digitally, is designed to promote that further and has evolved to clearly present information designed not to distract the driver, that is easy to operate on the move, and with Polestar-hallmark, clearly presented brand-specific typefaces and control icons. Polestar calls it mechatronic.

As with Polestar’s production vehicles, Google Gemini with Google Built-in, is integrated into the concept to provide advanced AI for all vehicle occupants through a natural, conversational voice experience.