Volvo Polestar division enhances S60/V60 pair

VOLVO has announced a carbon-fibre aerodynamic exterior package for the updated Polestar S60 sedan and V60 wagon, which is limited to just 1500 examples worldwide.

Said to increase downforce by 30 per cent, Volvo claims the package will add extra performance and handling benefits to the sports-oriented Polestar pair.

The list of carbon-fibre aerodynamic tweaks include a new front splitter, side sills, rear spoiler extension and door mirror casings, while other enhancements include high-gloss black Polestar diamond-cut wheels and a new colour option – Bursting Blue Metallic.

Inside, the updated Polestar twins gain new seat upholstery, blue contrast stitching and Polestar embroidery.

The new aerodynamic package was co-developed by Polestar and Cyan Racing, Volvo’s motorsport division, drawing from lessons learned from the World Touring Car Championship.

Components were also developed during the record-setting Nurburgring lap attempt, in which a Polestar S60 nabbed the title of fastest four-door road-legal car to lap the circuit at 7:51.11.

Transforming an S60 or V60 into a Polestar-fettled version requires swapping more than 250 components, including adjustable Ohlins shock absorbers and six-piston Brembo brake callipers with 371mm discs.

No changes have been made to the Polestar’s 2.0-litre twin-charged (turbocharged and supercharged) four-cylinder petrol engine, which continues to pump out 270kW at 6000rpm and 470Nm between 3100-5100rpm.

The powertrain features additional components over the standard version of the engine, such as 3.0-inch exhaust system, higher capacity turbo, fuel pump, air filter and air intake, and strengthened conrods and camshafts.

Power is sent to the rear-biased four-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, resulting in a zero-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds for the S60 (4.8s for the V60).

Fuel economy is rated at 7.8 litres per 100km for the S60 (8.1L/100km for V60), with carbon dioxide emissions standing at 179 and 186 grams per km, respectively.

Polestar vice-president product strategy and management Jorgen Ronstad said the S60 and V60 represent the best vehicles the brand has to offer.

“The model year (2018) S60 and V60 Polestar models are the pinnacle of our road-car programmes that we have been developing successfully since our first road car was launched in 2013,” he said.

“The aerodynamic enhancements, combined with other small but important changes, further enhances our base philosophy of a performance car for all roads and conditions, transferring technology and learnings from track to road.”

In the first seven months of 2017 Volvo has sold 153 examples of the S60 and 61 of the V60, down 34.9 and 22.8 per cent respectively on its sales numbers over the same period last year.

The two are well off the pace of segment leaders such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (4980) and CLA (2059), BMW 3 Series (1633) and Audi A4 (1399).

It is unclear how many of the global allocation will make it to Australia, and how much they will cost, but GoAuto has contacted Volvo Cars Australia to confirm.

Currently, the S60 Polestar is priced from $89,702 excluding on-road costs and the V60 is priced at $92,702.