Volvo Brings Some Swedish Lust With S60 and V60 Polestar: Comments

[William Maley]

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When you think of Volvo, the images of boxy sedans and wagons that are very safe come to mind. Performance and something to lust over isn't something that you would equate with the brand at all. Until now.

At the Chicago Auto Show today, Volvo introduced the S60 and V60 Polestar which turn up the performance wick. Under the hood, Volvo's tuning partner Polestar has modified the turbocharged 3.0L inline-six with a new turbocharger, intercooler, and engine management software. Those changes increase power to 345 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque from the standard 325 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission paired with a Polestar-developed Haldex all-wheel-drive system gets all of that power to the ground. 60 MPH comes in 4.7 seconds.

Under the skin, the S60 and V60 Polestar come with much stiffer springs and a set of uprated Ohlins shocks. Larger brakes (14.6 inches up front and 11.8 inches for the back) sit behind a set of twenty-inch wheels.

The exterior of the S60 and V60 Polestar get unique front and rear splitters, along with a rear spoiler and diffuser to improve aerodynamics.

Volvo says there will only be 120 S60 and V60 Polestars available in the U.S. beginning this June. No word on pricing at the moment.

Our Take: Volvo does the impossible with the S60 and V60 Polestar; they create Swedish Lust.

Source: Volvo

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected]or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

Press Release is on Page 2

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The Volvo V60 And S60 Polestar Bring Race-Tested Innovation To Real-World Driving

Quickest factory Volvos ever make U.S. debut at 2014 Chicago Auto Show

• Special press conference being held today at 11:30am CT during the 2014 Chicago Auto Show
  
• V60 sports wagon and S60 sedan models will be available in two colors
  
• 345 hp / 369 lbs.-ft T6 power plant, matched with fully tuned suspension
  
• Coming to U.S. showrooms this summer
  

ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Feb. 6, 2014) – The Volvo wagon is most definitely back in the U.S., and together with performance and tuning partner Polestar, 2014 also welcomes the quickest factory Volvos to date: The V60 and S60 Polestar. Only 120 of the ultra-limited edition sportswagon and sedan will be available in the U.S.

With a host of upgrades, from the chassis all the way through to the exterior, the latest from the Volvo and Polestar partnership represent the best automotive experience that Sweden has to offer. Both models will be on display in the U.S. for the very first time at a special press conference being held today at 11:30am (Central Time) during the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.

“We are proud to present the V60 and S60 Polestar models. Both have been developed for those who share our passion at Polestar: That driving really matters and that a true driver’s car should enable you to enjoy driving all year, on all roads and in all weather conditions. These are driver’s cars for real life,” said Christian Dahl, CEO of Polestar.

“It is very satisfying to see how Polestar has been able to combine this level of driving performance in their interpretation of the S60 and new V60, while upholding Volvo’s original service program, class-leading safety features and certified fuel and emission ratings. Customers buying these cars will get the best from both Polestar and Volvo,” said Alain Visser, senior vice president marketing, sales and customer service at Volvo Cars.

Performance For The Real World

Built around the standard V60 and S60, the Polestar editions combine the safety and comfort customers expect from Volvo with numerous adjustments and updates to numerous facets of the vehicles. The result is a wagon and sedan that are at home on any road in any condition, and that will undoubtedly enhance the everyday driving experience.

Starting with the chassis, upgrades include a more rigid structure overall, with new springs that are 80 percent stiffer than those available on the S60 R-Design. High-performance Öhlins shock absorbers and 20-inch Polestar-exclusive wheels round out the customized handling package. For greater stopping power, Polestar has included 14.6-inch ventilated front discs matched with six-piston Brembo calipers, and 11.8 inch ventilated discs at the rear. The exterior of the V60 and S60 Polestar – available in Black Sapphire or Rebel Blue – carry a number of aerodynamic elements borne directly out of Volvo’s and Polestar’s wind tunnel testing. New front and rear splitters increase overall down force and allow for more streamlined airflow, as do the new rear spoiler and diffuser.

Under the hood, the V60 and S60 Polestar feature Volvo’s venerated turbocharged T6 six cylinder engine, complete with an all-new, twin-scroll turbo as well as a new intercooler. Tweaks to the engine management software have also been made, and the 2.5-inch stainless steel exhaust with 3.5-inch tips, finish out the package. All told, the T6 produces 345 hp (SAE) at 5700 rpm, and 369 lbs.-feet of torque available at 2800 rpm. A six-speed automatic gearbox with a new paddle shift system and Polestar-developed, Haldex four-wheel drive system put the power to the road to carry the V60 and S60 Polestar to 60 mph from a standstill in just 4.7 seconds. Inside, upgraded seats, steering wheel, and other items throughout the cabin have been treated with new materials and Polestar-specific colors for an even more engaging feel for the driver and passengers.

The new Volvo V60 and S60 Polestar will be available at select U.S. dealers beginning in June 2014, with pricing to be announced in the coming months. To learn more and to find a dealer, please visit www.nextpolestar.com andhttp://www.volvocars.com/us/top/about/default/pages/default.aspx.

Technical Specifications

Performance

0-60 mph 4.7 sec

0-120 mph 16.3 sec

50-75 mph 4.7 sec

Top speed 155 mph – Electronically limited

Chassis

Polestar Öhlins shock absorber system

Polestar bespoke rims, 20x8 inch ET53 with 245/35R20 tires

Engine

6-cylinder inline T6 engine, 2953 cc

345 hp (SAE) @ 5700 rpm

369 lbs.-feet @ 2800-4750 rpm

Max 6500 rpm

New twin-scroll Borg Warner turbo

New intercooler

Polestar 2.5 inch stainless full-flow exhaust system with twin 3.5 inch tail pipes

Weight

S60 Polestar: 3528 lb

V60 Polestar: 3790 lb

Transmission

AWF21 automatic gearbox with paddle shift system

Polestar transmission calibration for faster gearshifts, launch control and curve-hold functionality

Polestar Haldex calibration for more rear torque dynamic distribution

Polestar calibrated stability control system

Brakes

Front: Polestar/Brembo 6 piston brake calipers

14.6 inch (371x32 mm) ventilated and floating Brembo discs

Rear: 11.8 inch (302x22 mm) ventilated disc

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[G. David Felt]

While it was a hot car when shown the first time, now it just seems Ehhh. I think they waited to long to get this to market. Be interesting to see how crazy the prices get due to 2nd, 3rd, 4th dealer markups.