A rise in power, lightness and slightly kinder to the environment, but at the expense of two cylinders.
Volvo has relased some new info on what is their most exciting model range, the performance-oriented works of their Polestar division, which for now means hot versions of their 2017 model year V60 wagon and S60 sedan, which will be arriving in Australia in the second half of 2016.
The short version is that they are more powerful, lighter, and consequently faster, but just those two attributes tell only a portion of the story. The two cyan Polestar models now come with a 270kW/470Nm engine, but it’s not from the 3.0-litre straight-six that we’ve become used to.
Instead, both cars accrue speed (4.7 seconds from standstill to 100km/h) using a tuned version of Volvo’s Drive E powertrain, meaning a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that is both supercharged and turbocharged.
It should be noted, however, that while power is up by 29kW from the outgoing S60/V60 Polestars, torque has taken a dip by 10Nm.
Volvo also supplied this engine with a larger than usual turbo and supercharger, new conrods, new camshafts, a larger air intake, a higher flow-rate fuel pump, 3-inch full-flow active exhaust system. We like that brand of old school tuning.
All that power is delivered through a BorgWarner all-wheel drive system and a Polestar-optimised eight-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. The extra power now has 20kg less weight to pull, with some load (24kg) transferred to the rear of the car instead of the front axle. This improved weight distribution works to improve the car’s dynamics.
The Drive E powertrain also result in improvements to fuel economy and carbon emissions, achieving a claimed figure of 7.8-litres/100km on a combined cycle and 179 C02 g/km.
There are also new 20-inch lightweight wheels to complement the added go as well as to differentiate the newer models from older.
Kevin McCann, Managing Director of Volvo Cars Australia, said: By any measure these cars are seriously quick, people will be genuinely impressed,”
“They are born at the racetrack, but built for the road. The cars are very composed through corners, with lots of traction and enough low-end torque to make them very, very quick. They combine Polestar’s 20 years of racing pedigree with Volvo’s inherent pragmatism and engineering heritage. The end result is two very quick but functional performance cars that can be driven on normal Australian roads every day of the year.”
