Volvo S60 Polestar
The first complete road car from Volvo's motorsport partner, the S60 Polestar will be released in Australia in strictly limited numbers - 50 cars - which have reportedly been developed exclusively for the local market. The first examples are expected later this month, with a MSLP of $109,950.
The Australian release of the S60 Polestar will serve as a tester for possible worldwide rollout of the Polestar developed performance models.
"The Australian market for performance cars is - and always been - strong," says Matt Braid, Managing Director of Volvo Car Australia.
"We are delighted to be able to offer our customers the Volvo S60 Polestar, a car more than capable of getting into the thick of the action in this competitive segment of the market.
"The work done by Polestar on the S60 is impressive to say the least - they have transformed the already fun to drive Volvo S60 into a great handling driver's car. Its point-to-point ability - in all weather - is second to none."
Cutting-edge technology straight from the racetrack
The Volvo S60 Polestar shares technology from the Polestar racing cars currently pounding the race tracks in the Swedish Touring Car Championship and, previously, in the World Touring Car Championship.
Dampers from Öhlins, upgraded high-performance brakes, and an extensively-developed, highly-tuned chassis are just some of the changes to the already capable standard Volvo S60.
A new aerodynamic package has also been developed, including a front splitter, rear wing and diffuser - all having been tweaked and modified in the Volvo Car Group wind tunnel in collaboration with the Volvo Research and Development team.
The six-cylinder turbo-charged Volvo T6 engine has been optimised by Polestar with a bigger turbo, new intercooler, revised engine mapping and racing exhaust to produce 257kW (350bhp) and 500+Nm.
The S60 Polestar accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, via a Polestar-tuned six-speed automatic gearbox - which also features a launch control system - and a Polestar-tuned Haldex 4WD system. The car is limited to a top speed of 250km/h.
"We have built a car that we, as car enthusiasts, want to drive," says Christian Dahl, Managing Director of Polestar.
"This is a driver's car, bringing out the very best of the already competent Volvo S60 chassis with our experience and technology from motorsport.
"We received a fantastic response to our Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar concept cars, so we're happy to now introduce our first production car to the Australian market. This is an important step forward for Polestar, one that promises an exciting future."
Extensive chassis development - by racing drivers
Key to the development of the Volvo S60 Polestar was the extensive work done on the chassis over thousands of test kilometres in Europe - from the ultra-fast autobahns in Germany to the twisty roads of southern Spain, and the freezing cold of northern Sweden.
Volvo Polestar Racing driver Robert Dahlgren - a 33-year-old Swede with 10 years as a Volvo factory racing driver under his belt - has been an integral part of the development work.
"The Volvo S60 Polestar is a car that we are truly proud of, our first step to a 'mainstream' car available to customers," he said.
"We have taken the best bits of the standard S60 T6 and our S60 Polestar Concept Car, and created a vehicle that puts a smile on your face every time you drive it over your favourite twisty road.
"At the same time, it is more than capable of everyday driving, too. It is, in my eyes, a very good combination of the Volvo and Polestar core values: safety and performance."
Volvo S60 Polestar MY13 tech specs
ENGINE
Engine - Six-cylinder inline Volvo T6 with Polestar engine software and new intercooler
Displacement - 2953cc
Valves - 24
Turbocharger - Borg Warner Turbo
Location - Front Transverse
Exhaust system - 2.5" stainless full-flow exhaust with 3.5" tailpipes
PERFORMANCE
Power output - 350bhp/257kW at 5700rpm
Torque - 500+Nm at 2800-4750rpm
RPM - Max 6500rpm
Acceleration 0-100km/h - 4.9 seconds
Top speed - 250km/h - limited
Fuel economy (combined) l/100km - 10.2
CO2 (combined) g/km - 243
TRANSMISSION
Drive - All-Wheel Drive
Transmission - AWF21 Six-speed adaptive geartronic with neutral control and quick shift sports mode, launch control and Polestar transmission software for quick shift and AWD software for improved rear torque
STEERING
Electro-Hydraulic Speed Sensitive Power Assisted Steering (EHPAS)
Turns to lock - 2.58
Turning circle - 11.9 mt
CHASSIS
MacPherson strut front suspension with multi-link independent rear suspension
Polestar Öhlins road and track 2-way adjustable shock absorbers
Strut brace with carbonfibre enforcement
New springs - 60N/mm front and 65N/mm rear (80% stiffer than T6 R-Design)
New stabilisers - front and rear
New top mount - front and rear
New rear tie blades
New toe link arms - rear
BRAKES
Polestar calipers
Front 336x29 mm ventilated discs
Performance brake pads
302x22 mm ventilated discs
Performance brake pads
WEIGHT
Dry weight 1684kg
FUEL TANK
Capacity 67.5 litres
WHEELS AND TYRES
- 8.0 x 19" ET51 Polestar graphite alloy rims
- 235/40 R19 Bridgestone Potenza RE 050A
AUDIO AND COMMUNICATION
Premium Sound Multimedia: AM/FM radio, 1-CD/DVD, MP3, 10 speakers, Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround system and 7" colour screen
Bluetooth®, USB and iPod connectivity with audio streaming, auxiliary audio input and audio controls in steering wheel
Volvo Navigation System (VNS) with voice control
SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND INTERIOR EQUIPMENT
Bi-Xenon Active Bending Lights (ABL) including headlight wash system
Rear park camera with front and rear parking sensors
Rain sensor with tunnel detection
Auto dimmed rear view mirror
Electric park brake with drive-away release
Front and rear armrests with cup holders and storage
Height and telescopically adjustable steering wheel
SECURITY
Keyless entry and drive with Personal Car Communicator and Volvo Guard Alarm with interior movement sensor
Central locking and immobiliser with key integrated remote control
Rear door power child locks and tempered side windows
SAFETY
Driver Alert System includes Lane Departure Warning, Active High Beam Control, Forward Collision Warning and Road Sign
Information
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, including Queue Assist with Pedestrian Detection City Safety
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Ready Alert Brakes (RAB), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and emergency brake light
Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) and Advanced Stability Control (ASC)
Driver and passenger dual stage airbags and Inflatable Curtain (IC)
Pyrotechnical seatbelt pretensioners, front and rear with seatbelt detection
Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) with airbags in front seats and Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS)
PAINT
Rebel Blue (solid), Passion Red (solid), Ice White (solid), Black Sapphire (metallic)
POLESTAR EXTERIOR
- Polestar emblem on front grille, rear boot and engine cover
- Polestar rear spoiler
- Polestar performance diffuser and front splitter corners
- Polestar 3.5" dual performance exhaust tailpipes
- Polestar black door mirror covers
POLESTAR INTERIOR TRIM
- Black leather upholstery sport seats - electrically adjustable with memory and heating function
- Polestar leather gearshift knob with Polestar emblem
- Polestar front door treadplates
- Polestar leather steering wheel with limited edition numbered plate
- Performance sport pedals
OPTIONS
Sunroof - $2,650
RETAIL PRICE
$109,950 - Contact your local Volvo dealer for drive-away pricing, or call 1800 786 586
