Volvo S60 Polestar : new brakes, seats, paddleshifters for 2014 upgrade

The Volvo S60 Polestar now features six-piston Brembo calipers with 370mm floating discs and high performance pads front and rear, “providing superior braking performance with no fade.” The automatic transmission has been “Polestar-optimised” meanwhile, with gearshift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel now added.

New front splitters and a rear spoiler and diffuser increase aerodynamics and downforce performance respectively, while inside beefed-up sports seats covered in charcoal Nabuck and leather aim to create a fix for a third S60 Polestar problem area.

Still powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing 257kW of power and 500Nm of torque, the Volvo S60 Polestar’s 4.9 second 0-100km/h claim also remains unchanged. The suspension’s springs remain 80 per cent stiffer than those of the S60 T6 R-design variant on which the Polestar is based.

The 50-unit limited edition was introduced last year as the most expensive Volvo offered in Australia, costing $109,950, which is unchanged for this latest update, though the limited-number restriction has been lifted.

Engineered by Swedish performance outfit Polestar – which has strong involvement in the Volvo V8 Supercars program – the S60 Polestar continues to be an Australia-only proposition, though a third iteration is said to be coming later this year and will feature a V60 Polestar variant and will be introduced in other countries.

“The luxury sedan segment in Australia is defined by significant performance variants,” said Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid.

“Following on the from the successful limited-edition run last year in Australia, Volvo decided to introduce unique Polestar variants on the production line for a number of markets.”

The Volvo S60 Polestar made its local debut at the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercars race at the weekend, and will be available in Australian showrooms in April.