Inside the Making of Our All-Action Arctic Circle Collection

This February, Polestar is making a bold return to its motorsport roots at the 2025 FAT International Ice Race in Austria.

Known for its sleek EVs, the brand is embracing its high-performance heritage with a striking Arctic Circle collection—one-off models of the Polestar 2, 3, and 4, featuring lifted suspensions, chunky ice racing tires, and eye-catching yellow-and-white liveries.

Before Polestar became an EV powerhouse, it dominated Scandinavian motorsport, culminating in a 2017 FIA World Touring Car Championship title. That racing DNA lives on, and now, atop a frozen airfield in Zell am See, Polestar will push the limits of its road cars in extreme winter conditions.

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“This is something I’ve always been a fan of,” says Nahum Escobedo, Polestar’s Exterior Design Manager. “We always show things with the intent of doing something; we don’t stay static.”

A Bold Design for the Ice

Each Arctic Circle Polestar retains its sleek, performance-driven stance but gets a rally-inspired transformation. OZ Racing wheels and lifted suspensions enhance the aggressive look, while a splash of vibrant yellow dominates the front end—a striking evolution of Polestar’s signature Swedish Gold. “Yellow is an energetic, confident color,” explains Maria Uggla, Head of Colour and Materials. “We’ve always used it sparingly, but this time we went bold.”

Despite the visual tweaks, the core performance of these Polestars remains unchanged. The Polestar 3 Long range Dual motor, with its torque-vectoring, dual-chamber air suspension, and staggered wheel setup, is already engineered for dynamic handling.

The Polestar 4, the brand’s fastest car to date (0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds), boasts precision aerodynamics, while the Polestar 2 combines an asynchronous front motor and a silicon carbide inverter for maximum efficiency and responsiveness.

Built for the Cold

Adapting Polestar’s EVs for ice racing wasn’t about drastic changes—it was about refining what already works. “Ordinarily, I’d want to add vents and openings,” Escobedo admits. “But we realized these cars didn’t need much—they were already built for performance.”

That confidence stems from rigorous Arctic Circle testing, where Polestar’s vehicles endure temperatures below -30°C in Sweden’s Jokkmokk proving grounds, fine-tuning every detail for extreme conditions.

The Return of the FAT Ice Race

Originally held in 1952 to honor Ferdinand Porsche, the Zell am See ice race became an annual spectacle until a tragic accident in 1974 forced its cancellation. After a 45-year hiatus, Ferdinand Porsche’s great-grandson revived it in 2019, and today, the event continues to grow, drawing elite manufacturers and motorsport enthusiasts from around the world.

For designers like Escobedo, taking Polestar to Zell am See is more than just a showcase—it’s a full-circle moment. “You hear about Goodwood, Pebble Beach, and FAT Ice Race in design school. Seeing them in person, feeling the energy… that’s when you truly understand.”

The Polestar Arctic Circle collection will make its public debut on February 1 at the FAT International Ice Race at Zell am See Airport, Austria.

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