POLESTAR SYNERGY: ELECTRIC FANTASY BROUGHT TO LIFE
The Polestar Synergy concept is the result of the Swedish electric performance brand's 2022 Design Contest, bringing together over 600 entries from around the world to produce a single, full-scale electric fantasy supercar. Unveiled at IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich, the Synergy is more than a show car: it is a six-month collaborative project between three winning designers and the Polestar Design team, and a direct statement about where electric vehicle design can go when freed from production constraints.
How the Polestar Design Contest Created the Synergy
The 2022 contest brief asked entrants to explore the experience of performance through advanced and sustainable design. From over 600 submissions, a panel of judges selected two exterior winners and one interior winner, making it the first time the competition recognised three winners simultaneously. The exterior was designed by Devashish Deshmukh and Swapnil Desai, both based in Paris, who drew inspiration from the form of a hammerhead shark. Interior design came from Chinese designer Yingxiang Li, whose single-seat floating cockpit prioritises total driver immersion. The Synergy measures approximately 4.56 metres in length and 1.07 metres in height, giving it a dramatically low, wide stance.
Hot Wheels Partnership and the Next Design Contest
Alongside the Synergy reveal, Polestar announced a new creative partnership with Mattel's Hot Wheels brand. Future Polestar Design Contests will draw inspiration from Hot Wheels' legacy of exaggerated, performance-first proportions. As part of the deal, existing Polestar production vehicles will be reproduced as Hot Wheels and Matchbox collectibles, bringing the brand to an entirely new audience beyond traditional automotive enthusiasts.
What the Polestar Synergy Represents for Electric Supercar Design
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath described the Synergy as a testament to the brilliance of electric vehicle design, noting that the constraints of production engineering are often what hold concept work back. The Synergy's canopy-enclosed single-seat interior, extreme proportions, and hammerhead-shark nose demonstrate that sustainable performance does not require aesthetic compromise. After Munich, the full-size model toured internationally, starting with the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in California.
The Synergy sits in a long tradition of electric supercar concepts that push boundaries. Browse the full selection of electric and performance cars at TheArsenale, and explore bespoke electric vehicles including the Bugatti Baby II junior electric car and the PG x Bugatti carbon bicycle for other examples of iconic design meeting sustainable engineering.
Photo: Polestar
