Volvo Cars and their in-house race team and performance division Polestar have announced that they are putting a new engine in the S60 and V60 Polestar models. The old engine was a turbocharged inline six making 345 hp. The new one is a turbocharged and supercharged 2.0L four making 362 hp. There is also a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Official numbers are not yet available, but Volvo claims that fuel economy is improved, and at 4.7 seconds from 0-100 km/h (4.8 for the wagon) that acceleration is faster too. That's a win-win.
The new engine has also helped drop 24 kg off of the front axle, and the car is 20 kilos lighter total than the outgoing car. This is not an all-new engine, but a modified version of the current Volvo four-cylinder. Changes include a bigger turbo, a bigger supercharger, improved connecting rods, new camshafts and a higher capacity fuel pump. There is also a BorgWarner all-wheel-drive system in place of the outgoing Haldex system.
Exterior changes include 20-inch wheels wearing 245/35 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, a new front splitter, rear spoiler and diffuser. Underneath are adjustable Öhlins shocks and new larger Brembo brakes with floating front discs. And of course the beautiful Polestar signature Rebel Blue will be available.
Inside there are special sport seats with blue stitching and Polestar imprints. The blue stitching extends to the steering wheel and carpets. There is also a carbon centre stack, Polestar shift knob, pedals and door sills.
The Polestar Volvos are not a high volume car, with fewer than 750 built last year. Volvo is doubling production to 1500 cars per year, but is also increasing the markets where it is sold from 13 to 47, meaning that this will still be a rare car on Canadian roads. Expect them at dealers later this year.
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