Acclaimed actor Alexander Skarsgard joins forces with Polestar for a secret agent-inspired look at the new Polestar 5.
Electric Cars
Why create an ordinary promotional video when you can sprinkle in some big-name talent and clever writing to make it just that little bit more fun.
Polestar has given the product walkaround of the new Polestar 5 electric sports sedan the superspy treatment by tapping into the iconic ‘James Bond and Q’ relationship, albeit with an unnamed secret agent protagonist.
Swedish actor Alexandar Skarsgard delivers a deadpan, and perhaps slightly out-of-touch pseudo-Bond, set to take delivery of his new ‘company’ car.
Technician, Pierce (clearly a play on Pierce Brosnan), guides Skarsgard through the features of the 650kW/1015Nm super sedan, managing queries from the spy about some of the ‘fictional’ technology that isn’t quite available to regular Polestar customers.
Polestar has doubled down on this, though, as the clip notes the 365-litre boot has space for not just one, but perhaps two jetpacks, with the Swedish brand listing a Polestar-themed personal flying device on its European website.
The clip doesn’t quite land all its gags and feels a little forced in parts, but the Polestar 5 looks impressive. Speaking with Drive, a Polestar Australia spokesperson noted of the $193,100 Polestar 5 Performance, "We anticipate Polestar 5 will arrive in Australia during the second quarter of 2026".
Skarsgard himself was considered a potential actor to fill the role of the real cinematic Bond, but noted in an interview with The Times of London, “I could be a very polite, diplomatic Swedish James Bond, who negotiates. There’ll be no violence at all. It’ll just be boardroom meetings where people try to find consensus, everyone’s stressed out and desperately tries to avoid an argument or complications, that’s very Swedish. I’ll pitch it!”
This is not the first time that big-name talent has been used to promote cars. Outside of many Super Bowl and other big-ticket television commercials, BMW has been credited with creating the first viral automotive marketing films with the 2001 Clive Owen-anchored ‘The Hire’ series.
These initial five short films, published online before YouTube had even launched, blended Owen’s acting skills with a variety of new BMW cars, celebrity cameos and famous directors.
Electric Cars Guide
With over 20 years of experience in digital publishing, James Ward has worked within the automotive landscape since 2007 and brings experience from the publishing, manufacturer and lifestyle side of the industry together to spearhead Drive's multi-media content direction.
