Volvo Polestar: Swedish performance range boosted in Australia
Coming off the success of the limited-release Volvo S60 Polestar late last year, Volvo Australia is expanding its range of performance-tuned models.
The models to be tweaked by Volvo’s official racing partner include C30 T5, S60 T6, V60 T6, XC60 D5 and XC60 T6, with each based on the flagship R-Design variants.
The suped-up Scandinavians are available now and will vary in price from $43,490 for the C30 T5 (manual) to $78,490 for both the V60 T6 (automatic) and XC60 T6 (automatic).
The Polestar-fettled models benefit from Polestar's unique engine management software that sees significant gains in power and torque through changed throttle mapping and increasing turbo pressure.
The only external hint to the extra potency that lies beneath these R-Designs is the discreet, blue Polestar badge on the rear end giving buyers a legitimate stealth performance option.
The positives of the Polestar treatment are not solely performance based, either, with all Polestar models retaining not only their existing fuel consumption and CO2 figures despite the increased power but most importantly Volvo's full three-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
The warranty is not voided by the aftermarket re-mapping because the Polestar tuning software is the only software upgrade endorsed by Volvo Car Corporation.
Polestar bolstered its links to Volvo by campaigning the Polestar Racing Volvo C30 (pictured above) in the 2011 World Touring Car Championship.
The original Volvo S60 Polestar was a limited build project created by Volvo Cars Australia for last year's Melbourne motor show.
Volvo R-Design Polestar Range
Volvo C30 T5 R-Design - $43,490 (man)/$44,990 (auto)
Volvo XC60 D5 R-Design - $72,490 (auto)
Volvo S60 T6 R-Design - $75,490 (auto)
Volvo V60 T6 R-Design - $78,490 (auto)
Volvo XC60 T6 R-Design - $78,490 (auto)
Polestar performance gains
Volvo S60 T6 Polestar
Power: 242kW (up 18kW)
Torque: 480Nm (up 40Nm)
0-100km/h: 5.8 seconds (0.3sec faster)
Volvo V60 T6 Polestar
Power: 242kW (up 18kW)
Torque: 480Nm (up 40Nm)
0-100km/h 5.9 seconds (0.3sec faster)
C30 T5 Polestar
Power: 184kW (up 15kW)
Torque: 370Nm (up 50Nm)
0-100km/h: 6.3 seconds manual, 6.8 auto (0.4 and 0.3sec faster respectively)
XC60 D5 Polestar
Power: 169kW (up 11kW)
Torque: 470Nm (up 30Nm)
0-100km/h: 8.1 seconds (0.2sec faster)
XC60 T6 Polestar
Power: 242kW (up 18kW)
Torque: 480Nm (up 40Nm)
0-100km/h: 7.0 seconds (0.3sec faster)
0
