Although South Africa is only now getting to grips with the current Volvo S60 Polestar which made its local debut towards the end of 2015, a new 270kW version has been confirmed with 32 models headed our way.
With such a limited number of models coming in Q3 of 2016, existing Polestar owners probably won’t feel that aggrieved by the new model’s early arrival and if anything it proves that Volvo is taking the expansion of its sub-species performance division seriously. Production volume has doubled to 1500 units per annum and Polestar is now available in 47 markets.
The new engine has been chopped down from the previous 3.0-litre T6 engine and yet it is more powerful. Measured at 2.0-litres spread across 4-cylinders, the new Drive-E engine produces 270kW and 470Nm from its turbo and supercharged lump – a gain of 12kW but perhaps a significant loss drop of 30Nm. Upgrades to the Drive-E engine are loosely connected to the WTCC race car and include a bigger turbo, a supercharger, new conrods, new camshafts, a larger air intake and a higher capacity fuel pump.
Still the deficit in torque hasn’t hurt the car’s 0-100km/h time which shaves 0.2 seconds for a time of 4.7 seconds and there’s a 24 kilogram saving over the front end which will no doubt improve handling and turn-in. A BorgWarner four-wheel drive system is mated to a revised 8-speed Geartronic system as the only drivetrain available.
The Smurf Blue paintwork – one of our favourites features of the car we might add – is complemented by 20-inch, Polestar-calibrated electro-assisted power steering and new 371mm slotted front brake discs. While a V60 Polestar was launched internationally alongside the S60, only the latter will come to SA.
“These cars are properly quick,” says Niels Möller, Chief Operating Officer, Polestar. “But they are more than that. They combine Polestar’s 20 years of racing pedigree with Volvo’s inherent pragmatism and engineering heritage. These are very fast cars that you can use every day of the year.”
Henrik Fries, Vice President R&D, Polestar, concludes: “All changes made to the car are about improving drivability and efficiency. The base of the new engine carries motorsport technology with solutions like the combination of turbo and supercharger, lightweight materials and more. This works hand-in-hand with our core philosophy and has enabled us to evolve the Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar.”
SA Car Fan will be driving the current S60 T6 Polestar later this month with a full review to follow.
