Polestar and Luminar expand partnership to include upcoming Polestar 5
The forthcoming four-door GT joins the Polestar 3 SUV to gain from the tech firm’s LiDAR system
Polestar and US tech firm Luminar Technologies have announced that the upcoming Polestar 5 four-door GT will be equipped with Luminar's LiDAR technology.
It will be the second model to utilize the system after the Polestar 3 SUV, which the Swedish firm began delivering to customers earlier this month.
Like the 3, the Polestar 5 will integrate Luminar's long-range LiDAR and software into its roofline, similar to the amalgamation seen in the Volvo EX90 flagship electric SUV - helping to deliver limited self-driving capabilities.
Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath said: “Luminar is at the forefront of long-range LiDAR technology and this closer collaboration will allow for greater innovation in our cars to come.
“We look forward to combining our R&D and product design expertise to deliver truly stunning LiDAR integration and capabilities for the Polestar brand.”
In the context of autonomous vehicles, LiDAR is used to gather real-time 3D data about the surrounding environment.
A LiDAR sensor mounted on a car sends out laser pulses and measures the time it takes for the pulses to bounce back, allowing the system to accurately determine the distance to nearby objects.
This information is then used to create a detailed 3D map of the environment, which the vehicle's computer can use to navigate and avoid obstacles. LiDAR is one of the key technologies that enables self-driving cars to safely and accurately operate on roads.
In terms of specifications and performance figures, little has been confirmed so far for the 5, but is rumoured to have a dual-motor powertrain that will deliver up to 871bhp and 900 Nm of torque.
It is also said to be equipped with an 800-volt architecture, which will allow for a quick charge to reach 80 percent battery capacity in around 20 minutes.