Polestar has officially debuted its Formula 2030 concept car, giving key insights into its design direction for upcoming models.

Designed as the physical manifestation of the brand’s wider Formula 2030 strategy – which sets out its commercial growth, profitability and design roadmap – the concept previews attributes that will be seen on the new Polestar 2 due in 2027 and the forthcoming Polestar 7 compact premium SUV.

Notably, it’s the first show car created under head of design Philipp Römers, who formally joined the company in January 2025, and Polestar says it’s “inspired by cars that came before it and shaping those that will come next”.

The concept carries over the existing Polestar formula to “remove the unnecessary, improve what remains and refuse to compromise” while amplifying the already established performance, technology and sustainability pillars.

Now fully unveiled following a preview late summer, the compact sportscar features a low-slung design that means it’s even lower than the Polestar 5 Grand Tourer and positioned somewhere between the forthcoming Polestar 2 and Polestar 7 dimensionally. Aesthetics also take inspiration from the recently launched Polestar 4 SUV for its hint towards planted practicality.

The performance-focused exterior also features powerful rear haunches, a long bonnet, short overhangs and 22-inch wheels. The signature Dual Blade headlights provide the Formula 2030 with an instantly recognisable Polestar character, previewing the face of the next-generation Polestar 2 planned for 2027. Taking inspiration from the Polestar 3, the Dual Blades are integrated into a front aero wing to maintain a strong Polestar identity and amplified presence.

There’s just one, vertically orientated windscreen wiper, aping motorsport cars old and new, mounted on a visor-like wraparound windscreen that pays homage to the first generation Polestar 2. A concealed LiDAR unit, hidden beneath an aerodynamic shroud when not in use, reveals itself when the driver is making use of the Formula 2030 concept car’s autonomous drive capabilities. Behind sits the brand’s familiar guiding star symbol projected into the panoramic glass roof.

The rear is said to be “UFO-esque” and displays a new era of lighting signature, with the now ubiquitous lightbar removed and Polestar’s Single Blade rear lights introduced ahead of series production.

Featuring opposing doors open for pillarless, easy access, the interior gets a driver-focused mechatronic layout and next-generation materials and finishes in tone-in-tone colours. The performance-focused cockpit is concentrated towards the driver and centres around a 20-inch ‘HyperDIM’ curved Driver Information Monitor, mounted directly to the steering column to ensure prime visibility for the driver. The 12.2-inch Centre Screen Display (CSD) is integrated into a gently sloping centre tunnel, which is designed to emphasise the importance of the driver’s primary position in the vehicle.

The horizontal interior band, similarly seen in Polestar’s production cars, wraps around the driver before flowing through the rest of the cabin “bathed” in ambient lighting. Polestar says these design cues point towards future interiors and provide the clearest indication of what comes next for the brand.

There’s four individual seats, each with Air Inflatable bolsters and cushions that mould themselves to each occupant for optimum lateral and longitudinal support and are deliberately positioned low-down in the cabin to provide a performance-focused seating position.

Three different drive modes, Performance, Normal and Autonomous, are selected by sliding the drive mode selector forward through the plane of the centre console. These are used to change the physical attitude of the CSD and driving position to reflect the mode chosen.

Potentially bringing a solution to driver pushback on digital-only consoles, the concept seeks “to rebalance the mix of physical and digital with a mechatronics solution for its controls, thanks to a panel of physical controls positioned below the CSD”. These eight controls are entirely customisable, both physically – allowing users to choose between different types of control such as rocker switches or rotary controllers – and digitally, giving quick and easy access to the most used functions in the car. Individual hot keys can also be programmed to provide user-defined functions.

Polestar also pledges a UX and UI experience that delivers clearly presented information, designed not to distract the driver, and easy to operate on the move. As with Polestar’s production vehicles, Google Gemini is integrated into Formula 2030 with Google built-in, providing advanced AI for all vehicle occupants through a natural, conversational voice experience.

Formula 2030 debuts a new exterior colour, Nitrogen, which is specific to the concept and designed to react dynamically to natural light, married up with Swedish Gold, the brand’s Performance signature, on the Brembo brake calipers, valve caps, interior detailing and seat belts as a strong accent.

The show car also evolves Polestar’s work on use of sustainable materials and circularity through continued development of the mono-material strategy, with 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-emission galvanised steel.

Beneath the transparent boot floor, bespoke Polestar bags are secured with Swedish gold luggage staps. Lifting the rear clamshell for access the luggage area deliberately exposes the body structure, showcasing Bcomp’s natural fibre composite with Polestar’s signature weave. The concept’s race-inspired Öhlins dampers are also flamboyantly displayed, while the front luggage compartment – providing dedicated space for race helmets and a fire extinguisher – is framed by a Swedish gold strut brace.

Philipp Römers, head of design at Polestar, said: “Design should always reflect the values and mission of a brand and that is exactly what we did with Polestar Formula 2030 concept. It is a physical embodiment of how we apply Polestar‘s core values of design, performance and sustainability to the next production cars. A bold evolution of our already well-established design DNA to strengthen the brand‘s positioning with performance at its heart.”