MY GT7 Log: Platinum Star

Polestar, the Swedish luxury electric car brand of the Geely Group, which currently owns Volvo, made its Gran Turismo debut, although it is not yet available in the Japanese market.

What Polestar is featured in Gran Turismo 7? You're not right. It's actually this...

This is the first-ever Polestar 5, the brand's flagship EV saloon. You can drive this exclusively on Gran Turismo 7.

Born from the Precept Concept, the Polestar 5 is the brand's four-door luxury GT car that serves as the flagship of the Polestar range.

The Polestar 5 is built on the Polestar Performance Architecture and is available in two variants: Long Range and Performance (shown here). Both models are equipped with a 112kWh lithium nickel battery. The high-performance variant delivers an impressive 884 PS of power and 1,015 Nm of torque, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. It also features an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. This makes it as distinctly European as any high-performance saloon can be.

The Polestar 5 features a Polestar-first 800V EV architecture, allowing it to charge at rates of up to 350 kW when connected to a compatible DC charger. This means that charging from 10% to 80% can take as little as 22 minutes. Additionally, an external charging indicator located on the C-pillar provides a quick glimpse of the vehicle's state of charge (SOC).

To enhance efficiency, the rear motor of the Polestar 5 can disconnect when not in use. The Polestar 5 Dual Motor variant can achieve a range of up to 670 km (WLTP) on a single charge, while the Polestar 5 Performance variant can drive for up to 565 km (WLTP).

The Dual Motor Launch Edition starts at 119,900 Euros, while the Performance Launch Edition costs 142,900 Euros. Additional costs are included. 

The EV powertrain made the car difficult to handle, corner, and maneuver. Despite its bulk from the EV powertrain, the acceleration is signature electric car performance as expected for an all-electric Polestar flagship.

To prove its worth, I went to the Red Bull Ring to demonstrate the Polestar 5's capabilities as a four-door GT that combines the qualities of a full-size luxury sedan and a sports car. Well, sports weren't in this car's DNA, but...whatever. Let's get this experiment rolling.

Around the sacred ground of the Austrian Grand Prix, I managed to post a 1:45.855 lap time. Not bad for a full-sized EV premium GT that is luxurious and decent to drive.

The fully imported Polestar 5 may not match the Porsche Taycan's credentials, but for Polestar, it is worthy of being the pack leader. Not perfect, but this is the Polestar speedo boys truly want. From concept-to-reality styling to its sporty performance, the most powerful Polestar EV is ready to shock the world.

Volvo ES90

The ES90 is Volvo's first-ever EV luxury premium sedan that wants to give the ultra-expensive BMW i7 a run for its money. For those who can't afford an i7 should consider this Swedish alternative, although this was fully imported from the People's Republic of China, as everybody said.

2026 Volvo ES90

With prices starting at 913,000 Kr plus additional costs, the first-ever ES90 is the all-electric successor to the S90 that combines fastback styling, SUV ground clearance, and premium-level riding comfort for a car that wants to be a less pricey alternative to the BMW i7, that is, if anyone's interested in this Chinese-made Swedish flagship EV saloon.

2026 Volvo ES90

2026 Volvo ES90 interior

While incorporating the new Volvo design first seen on today's EX90 in the fastback sedan setting, the ES90 is all about sharpness from top to bottom. While the design is one of the ES90's charm points, the weak point is its sizing because the wheelbase is slightly less than the S90 it replaces, meaning it's slightly less spacious at the back compared to the S90, but on the plus side, it's more spacious than the DS N°8.

On the driver's side, the ES90 features a 14.5-inch touchscreen powered by Android Auto that controls not just entertainment and navigation but almost the entire car, which can be cumbersome for anyone behind the wheel. It's AI-integrated as well, which is rather concerning even for those sitting at its "sweet spot".

2026 Volvo ES90

Running on the same SPA2 platform as the EX90, the Volvo ES90 features three different configurations armed with the 106kWh lithium-ion battery pack, such as the entry-level 333PS Single Motor, the 456PS all-wheel-drive Twin Motor variant, and the most powerful in the lineup, the Twin Motor Performance. The flagship variant produces 680PS of power and 870Nm of torque, sprinting from a 0-100kph time of 4 seconds. That's it. The driving distance on one full charge is about 700km. That's more than what you get from either the BMW i7 or the DS N°8.

The ES90 is equipped with a roof-mounted Iris LiDAR sensor from Luminar, five radars, eight cameras, two interior cameras, and 16 ultrasonic sensors. These components enhance the crossover's advanced safety features, which Volvo has emphasized over the years. Currently, the ES90 is limited to Level 2 autonomy, but it is the first vehicle designed with hardware that is ready for fully autonomous driving in the future.

While not as spacious as the S90 it replaces and not a strong rival to the BMW i7, the ES90 poses a significant challenge to the DS N°8 in terms of space and performance, nearly matching it. It's a shame that this is the only new sedan in the Volvo lineup, which was dominated by electrified SUVs. That's common sense to you.

Available Colors: Crystal White, Onyx Black, Denim Blue, Mulberry Red, Vapour Grey, Sand Dune, and Aurora Silver.

Source: Volvo Cars

Polestar 4 vs Lotus Emeya

Polestar has done the impossible with the first-ever Polestar 4, an all-electric coupe crossover with no rear window. How is this possible? Is it legal to drive a car without a rear window?

2025 Polestar 4

The 700,000Kr Polestar 4 is unlike every road car you've come across since the days of the Gumpert Apollo because like the Apollo, the Polestar 4 has no rear view window. Verging suicidal by Polestar standards, the liftback styling and signature Polestar styling first seen in the Polestar 3 SUV really means business for the Swedish EV premium brand under the thumb of China's Geely group.

2025 Polestar 4 interior

Inside, the Polestar 4 accommodates up to five people but because of such luxury car pricing, it's too expensive to be used as a family car, perhaps it can be used for business class purposes, escorting big shots from Peking to Paris. Because it doesn't have a rear mirror, the only way to see things behind you is by using the 15.4-inch touch screen with Google built-in and Snapdragon Cockpit Platform. It's the future, after all.

Powered by a 102kWh battery pack, the RWD Long Range Single Motor variant produces 272PS of power while the AWD Long Range Dual Motor variant produces 544PS of power, sprinting from 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 200kph. As for the driving range, the latter does 590km on one full charge.

The Polestar 4 is packed with numerous safety features that earned the right to become fully autonomous in the foreseeable future, with Level 2 autonomy the best it can do for now. It even comes with the Polestar-first Smart Eye that detects drivers' eye movements in the name of reducing driver distraction.

2025 Lotus Emeya

Feeling nervous about driving a car with no rearview mirror like the Polestar 4 should be better off with the more expensive choice; the Lotus Emeya, the first all-electric premium sedan from the company behind lightweight sports cars such as the Elise, Exige, and the Evora.

2025 Lotus Emeya interior

Priced at 89,500 Pounds plus additional costs, the Emeya is more expensive than the no-rear-window Polestar 4 and has one seat less compared to the said car but with all the downsides come with the added upsides because, unlike the Eletre SUV, this is a lot more interesting to drive.

Like the Eletre SUV, the Emeya sedan is powered by dual motors that power it and the Geely-derived platform underneath. Although it doesn't behave like a Lotus, it delivers a throat-chopping experience when you put your foot down and looks like someone's driven to tears, wishing they want to experience this someday.

The Emeya features three different configurations with the base variant producing 612PS of power and 373 miles of driving range to the ultra-powerful Eletre R with a monstrous 918PS of power output, capable of going from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 278kph. As for the range, the Eletre R is good for 485km on one full charge.

It also features the most sophisticated ADAS offered such as the LIDAR system, ultra-HD cameras, and millimeter-wave radar, making it equipped for fully autonomous driving.

The Polestar 4 is an all-electric coupe crossover with no rear window, while the Lotus Emeya is an all-electric premium sedan. Both cars have pros and cons. The Polestar 4 is less expensive but doesn't have a rear window, while the Lotus Emeya is more expensive but has a rear window. If I had to choose, I would go for the Lotus.

Photo: Polestar, Lotus

My FH5 Log: Koenig Specials - No Jokes Around

2024 marks Koenigsegg's 30th anniversary and what better way to celebrate 30 years of Spirit of Performance by driving the best of Koenigsegg in Forza Horizon 5. Let's end the FH5 Koenigsegg history lesson with the Jesko, the current-generation megacar.

The Jesko, named after the father of founder Christian von Koenigsegg, represents the next step in Koenigsegg's quest for speed, building on the legacy of the legendary Agera. It is equipped with a re-engineered V8 twin-turbo engine that generates up to 1,600 horsepower and 1,500 Nm of torque when using E85 fuel. This power is paired with a custom 9-speed Light Speed Transmission, which offers the advantages of a dual-clutch gearbox without the added weight. In addition to its impressive power, the Jesko boasts the most advanced aerodynamics and track-focused dynamics, making it suitable for racetracks and everyday driving. It does 0-100kph in two and a half seconds and has a top speed of 483kph.

In its Absolut variant, the Jesko set four speed records: a 0-250 mph time of 19.20 seconds, a 0-250-0 mph time of 28.27 seconds, a 0-400 kph time of 18.82 seconds, and a 0-400-0 kph time of 27.83 seconds. The Attack variant, shown here, broke the Laguna Seca production car lap record with a time of 1 minute and 24.86 seconds. It recently set a new production car record at the Top Gear Test Track, finishing in just 1 minute and 10.9 seconds.

To prove the Jesko's worth, I've invited the Hennessey Venom F5 and the Rimac Nevera for a one-lap shootout outside the Stadium. Let's roll the tape.

Here are the results...

Venom F5 - 1m03.764s

Jesko - 1m01.678s

Nevera - 1m00.978s

The Jesko narrowly lost to the all-electric Croatian hypercar, the Rimac Nevera, after defeating the all-American monster machine, the Hennessey Venom F5. I have no idea what am I going to say to Christian von Koenigsegg about this. After all, he did speak to the bosses of Hennessey and Rimac about these monster machines. Frank conversation, perhaps.

For 30 years, Koenigsegg has forever rewritten the rules of speed and power from the CC8S to the Jesko. As cars continue to evolve, so is Koenigsegg as its pursuit of speed never ends, whatever it takes.

Here's to three more decades of speed, Koenigsegg!

My FH5 Log: Koenig Specials - The Reign

2024 marks Koenigsegg's 30th anniversary and what better way to celebrate 30 years of Spirit of Performance by driving the best of Koenigsegg in Forza Horizon 5. Let's continue our FH5 history lesson on Koenigsegg with the Regera.

In the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Koenigsegg introduced its first-ever plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) hypercar, the Regera. It's Sweden's answer to the now-legendary Hybrid Hypercar Holy Trinity of the 2010s.

The Koenigsegg Regera marked a departure from the company's traditional approach to hypercars. It combined comfort, luxury, and performance in one unorthodox hypercar that focused solely on power, technology, and innovation. Its name means "to reign" in Swedish.

The 5.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine is connected to three electric motors and a 4.5kWh liquid-cooled li-ion battery pack, generating a total of 1500hp of power and 1475lb-ft of torque. This allows it to sprint from 0 to 60mph in less than 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of over 250mph.

One of the Regera's most notable features is its Direct-Drive transmission, which connects the engine to the wheels directly via a single gear, a setup similar to that of today's electric cars or CVTs for modern city cars for that matter. This reduces the complexity and weight of the drivetrain and improves efficiency, while still providing exceptional acceleration and top speed.

All 80 of these vehicles were made and sold.

For a hypercar with a CVT-esque gearbox and a turbocharged V8 PHEV setup, I wonder just how good is the Regera? To find out, I let the Regera for a quick lap around the festival to prove its worth. Roll the tape.

I did it in 1m05.799s, which is about as quick as the regular Koenigsegg Agera by my standards. Not bad for a hypercar with a CVT-esque gearbox and a PHEV setup.

The Koenigsegg Regera is a statement of engineering excellence and is one of the fastest cars on the planet. It's a blend of hybrid technology, extreme performance, and luxury. It's a car for a select few with a discerning taste for the latest in innovation and driving.

Next time, our FH5 Koenigsegg history lesson concludes with the recent masterpiece; the Jesko. Stay tuned.

My FH5 Log: Legends of the Hidden Junk Cars

Three undesirable old cars have plagued Forza Horizon 5's Hidden Horizons update like disease-carrying rodents.

Let's face it, there's no stopping a game like Forza Horizon 5 from featuring undesirable old cars no one asked for and the Hidden Horizons update is no exception. Time to meet this update's worst offenders.

First, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III from the Hidden Horizons Summer Season Playlist. Launched in 1995, the Lancer Evolution III is the third and the last verse based on the fourth-generation Lancer. It features a revised body style compared to the Evo II while the turbocharged 2.0L 4G63 engine was bumped to 266HP of power output.

Next, the fourth-generation Toyota Chaser, in turbocharged 2.5GT twin-turbo guise, from the Hidden Horizons Winter Season Playlist. Powered by a 2.5L 1JZ-GTE engine, it produces 210PS of power, making it the most powerful of the X80-series Chasers.

Lastly, the facelifted Volvo C30, in T5 R-Design Polestar Limited Edition guise, from the Hidden Horizons Spring Season Playlist. A byproduct of the SCC Concept, the C30 is the last 3-door Volvo ever made.

Let's give the latest batch of junk cars a quick race to prove their worth. Roll the tapes.

These junk cars still know how to funk themselves.

The plague of junk cars in Forza Horizon 5 is far from over because the next update, the Back To The 90s update, sees another plague of junk cars from the 1990s. Brace yourselves, more junk cars are coming.

Speaking of which...

Do you remember the King?

My FH5 Log: Koenig Specials - The Aggressor

2024 marks Koenigsegg's 30th anniversary and what better way to celebrate 30 years of Spirit of Performance by driving the best of Koenigsegg in Forza Horizon 5. Let's continue our FH5 history lesson on Koenigsegg with the Agera era.

With the lessons learned from the CC-era cars, Christian von Koenigsegg begins his next chapter by creating the most technologically advanced hypercar bound to rewrite the rules of speed and power; the Koenigsegg Agera.

The Koenigsegg Agera is a spiritual successor of the CCX, a supercar that continued the Swedish supercar maker’s tradition of pushing beyond the limits of speed. The Agera was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and was powered by a 5.0L twin-turbo engine, a huge departure from its supercharged predecessors. It produced 960HP of power and 1100Nm of torque and was named Top Gear’s Hypercar of the Year in 2010.

The Koenigsegg One:1 is a true engineering marvel. With a power-to-weight ratio of 1:1 (1360 horsepower to 1360 kilograms), this hypercar is capable of astonishing acceleration and a theoretical top speed of 440 kilometers per hour. It also handles exceptionally well thanks to advanced aerodynamics that include an air scoop on the roof. Koenigsegg only built six of these cars, and they all sold out before they were even completed. This makes the One:1 one of the most exclusive and desirable cars in the world.

The Koenigsegg Agera RS, unveiled in 2015, is the final product of the Agera era. It takes all the components of different Agera models and combines them into one hypercar to end them all. The Agera RS uses the same twin-turbo V8 from the S, but it’s been optimized to produce 1160hp on regular gasoline or 1300hp on E85 biofuel. It’s also lighter than the R and the S, thanks to advanced composites and layup techniques from the One:1 program. 

The Agera RS is also a record breaker. In 2017, it set five records that put the Bugatti Veyron to shame. These records include the highest top speed for a production vehicle at 447.19 km/h (277.87 mph), the quickest 0-400-0kph time of 33.29 seconds, the highest average speed for a flying kilometer on a public road at 445.63 km/h (276.9 mph), and the highest speed achieved on a public road at 457.94 km/h (284.55 mph). 

Only 25 units of the Agera RS were made and sold. This makes it one of the most exclusive and desirable cars in the world.

Let's bring the Koenigsegg Agera cars to the Horizon Mexico festival venue and find out which one is the best. Roll the tape.

And here are the results...

Agera - 1m07.117s

One:1 - 1m00.327s

Agera RS - 1m01.078s

Although the Agera RS is the ultimate Agera, it still barely wasn't enough to beat the world's first megacar, the One:1. Still, regardless of what happened, the Agera rewrote the rules of what a hypercar should be and the Agera RS is Ground Zero for its successor; the Jesko.

Next time, our FH5 Koenigsegg history lesson continues with the Regera. Stay tuned.

My FH5 Log: Koenig Specials - The Beginning

2024 marks Koenigsegg's 30th anniversary and what better way to celebrate 30 years of Spirit of Performance by driving the best of Koenigsegg in Forza Horizon 5. Let's begin our FH5 history lesson on Koenigsegg by venturing into the CC era.

It was 1994 when 22-year-old Christian von Koenigsegg made a sketch of his dream car straight from his computer. His dream car sketch later became the blueprint for his first masterpiece; the Koenigsegg CC8S.

Unveiled in 2002 and delivered at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, the CC8S is armed with a Ford-derived 4.7L Supercharged V8 engine producing 564hp of power, capable of claiming the Guinness World Record title of the world's most powerful engine. It even won the Red Dot Design Award as well. Only six were made and two of them were right-hand-drive.

Fast-forward to the year 2006, the Koenigsegg CCX was unleashed. The CCX was unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show and served as the replacement for the CCR. CCX is an acronym for "Competition Coupe X", in fact, the X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. It was powered by a 4.7L twin-supercharged V8 engine with 806hp of power that claims to go 0-60m in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of over 245mph. There was a version called the CCXR that was tuned to run on biofuel and produced more power than the standard CCX up to 1018hp.

I remember watching that episode of Top Gear when The Stig crashed the Koenigsegg CCX. It was wild. I knew it was fast, but I had no idea it was that fast. The Stig said he could do better than his 1:20.4 lap time, so he tried again. He was hauling through the Follow-Through, but it didn’t have enough track for a car with that much power, and he went off. Stig thought the CCX could handle the corners better with a rear spoiler, and sure enough, Koenigsegg added one. With the spoiler, The Stig was able to lap the track in 1:17.6, which was faster than the Zonda F at the time.

Koenigsegg's CCGT prototype is one of my favorite cars from the brand. Unfortunately, we never got to see it on the track. Unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the CCGT was designed to comply with GT1 regulations. It was powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that produced 600 horsepower and weighed less than a ton. However, the FIA changed the GT1-class regulations, so Koenigsegg never had the opportunity to race the CCGT.

Let's bring the Koenigsegg CC cars to the Horizon Mexico festival venue and find out which one is the best. Roll the tape.

Here are the results...

CC8S - 1m09.203s

CCX - 1m07.484s

CCGT - 1m02.229s

I really love all the Koenigsegg CC cars in Forza Horizon 5. It's really cool that you can experience the evolution of the line from the CC8S to the CCX to the CCGT. The CCGT prototype in particular is a real standout. Unfortunately, it never got the chance to race, but it still might be my favorite of the bunch. It's absolutely stunning, and it definitely has the best performance out of the CC cars in FH5.

Next time, our FH5 Koenigsegg history lesson continues with the Agera era. Stay tuned!

Volvo EX90 vs Polestar 3

At Volvo, they see climate change as their real safety test and they're on the road to becoming an all-electric brand. The first-ever Volvo EX90 is a clear reminder of such a transition.

2024 Volvo EX90

Starting at 997,000 Krona plus additional costs, the first-ever Volvo EX90 marked the new beginning for the Swedish carmaker as their road to becoming an all-electric carmaker is in full swing to keep up with the challenges of the new normal.

2024 Volvo EX90

Beginning with the design, the EX90, when it was first unveiled to the world, was the first to incorporate the "new normal" Volvo design judging by the pixelated take on the Thor's Hammer headlamps and the squarish Volvo trademark taillights. Although the retractable door handles and creases made statements, the "new normal" exterior design is the template for future all-electric Volvos heading their way.

2024 Volvo EX90 interior

2024 Volvo EX90 interior

The same "new normal" Volvo principle applies to the interior. It features a 14.5-inch touchscreen powered by Android Auto that controls not just entertainment and navigation but almost the entire car, which can be cumbersome for anyone behind the wheel. What's also cumbersome is the steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons, a rotary gear selector, USB-C ports, a digital instrumental panel that knows your name, and others.

Regardless of how many seats you have, from five to seven, the boot space can accommodate up to 1,915 liters with the passenger seats folded down. With all seats present, it can carry up to 365 liters. Decent enough to carry today's grocery shopping list or rather thrift store dump if you're into that. The sweet spot of the EX90? Almost impossible to say because most Swedish families may end up with this, but it still works rather well for escorting liberal democrats, woke capitalists, and other VIPs alike. It's business class with a greater cause.

2024 Volvo EX90

The EX90 features three different configurations armed with the 107kWh lithium-ion battery pack such as the entry-level 279PS Single Motor, the 408PS all-wheel-drive Twin Motor variant, and the most powerful in the lineup, the Twin Motor Performance. The flagship variant produces 517PS of power and 910Nm of torque, sprinting from a 0-100kph time of 4.9 seconds. That's it. The driving distance in one full charge is about 590km. A real road-tripping crossover.

Asked about charging times, the EX90 will take about the length of an episode of your anime show to reach 80% or nearly half an hour to reach full charge while at home.

Although extremely regular to drive every day, not to mention being silent and comfy on the move, the EX90 is packed with a roof-mounted Iris LiDAR sensor from Luminar, five radars, eight cameras, two interior cameras, and 16 ultrasonic sensors, taking advantage of the crossover's cutting edge safety features Volvo has championed through the year. Although capped at Level 2 autonomy for the time being, the EX90 is the first that is hardware-ready for fully autonomous driving in the future. Whoa.

Like it or not, the EX90 is the poster Volvo of the new normal as its road to becoming an all-electric carmaker is in full swing. However, those who demand more should consider its sportier alternative to the EX90.

2024 Polestar 3

This is the Polestar 3, the third Polestar-made vehicle and the second fully electric since the Polestar 2 midsize saloon. Priced at 960,000 Krona plus additional cost, it's cheaper to own than the EX90, although it's available only as a five-seater.

2024 Polestar 3 interior

2024 Polestar 3 interior

While the exterior is strikingly sexy for crossover standards thanks to its design inspired by the Precept Concept, although the sidelines and rear can be downright mistaken for the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the minimalist interior, the 9-inch digital instrument cluster, the 14.5-inch touchscreen, and up to 1,411 liters of boot space proves that the Polestar 3 is all about taking things seriously, whatever life throws at it.

2024 Polestar 3 interior

Offered only in a Twin Motor 4WD layout with 107kWh lithium-ion battery, the Polestar 3 is offered with a choice of a 489PS Long Range Dual Motor and the 517PS Performance Pack. Although the latter is the same as the one in the EX90's range-topper, this is faster than the EX90 Twin Motor Performance variant because the Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor Performance variant is 0.2 seconds faster than the EX90 and while the EX90 is as fast as a Japanese car on Japanese roads, the Polestar 3 goes flatout in 210kph.

Apart from the performance, the Polestar 3 features front double wishbones, rear integral link, dual-chamber air suspension, adaptive dampers, Brembo brakes, and torque vectoring, making this heavyweight Polestar worth driving everywhere. Makes you fizz behind the wheel, huh?

Like the EX90, the Polestar 3 is packed with numerous safety features that earned the right to become fully autonomous in the foreseeable future, with Level 2 autonomy the best it can do for now. It even comes with the Polestar-first Smart Eye that detects drivers' eye movements in the name of reducing driver distraction. Speedo boys consider it a buzzkill but whatever.

The Volvo EX90 and the Polestar 3 are two extremely different sides of the same coin. While the EX90 is all about being a civilized crossover daily, the Polestar 3 rewrites the rules of what a fully electric crossover should be. Either way, this is the new normal. Deal with it.

Photo: Volvo Cars/Polestar