Late last year, Volvo South Africa released the Volvo S60 Polestar to the local market in limited numbers. It boasted a 258kW turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine with 500Nm and a 0-100km/h sprint time of a claimed 4.9 seconds. Only 25 units of the S60 Polestar were brought in, snapped up for the pretty sum of R735 000 each.
Now, though, Volvo has updated the Volvo S60 Polestar with their lauded Drive-E technologies – making it the last model in their line-up to adopt the new product philosophy.
What does that mean for the Volvo S60 Polestar?
In a word – downsizing. It’s the bane of many a petrolhead, but following the Drive-E philosophy means the Volvo S60 Polestar drops 2 cylinders from the 6-pot to adopt the 2.0-litre engine capacity you’ll find across all Volvo models. In this case, it’s twincharged for maximum potency.
Power has risen by 12kW to 270kW @ 6000rpm, with torque dropping by 30Nm to 470Nm between 3100-5100rpm. But along with the drop in engine size and capacity, the Volvo S60 Polestar has shed 20 kg – now weighing in at 1751 kg. More importantly, there’s 24 kg less weight over the front axle which should aid handling womewhat.
Power gets distributed to all 4 wheels by a BorgWarner 4WD system, via a Polestar-optimised 8-speed automatic transmission. The resultant 0-100km/h sprint time shaves off 0.2 seconds, now taking 4.7 seconds, with a top speed of 250km/h.
Stopping power in the Volvo S60 Polestar has also been upgraded, with new 371mm slotted front brake discs, housed within new lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels. Also new to the mix is a Polestar-calibrated electro-assisted power steering system.
How many for South Africa?
Due to an impressive public reception of last year’s Volvo S60 Polestar, we’ll be getting a few more than 25 of the new one. 32 is the magic number for the revised model – due to arrive in the 3rd quarter of 2016.
Unfortunately we’re only getting the S-model though, and the South African aversion to station wagons once again prevents us from experiencing the V60 Polestar.
The price at this stage is still under evaluation; but expect it to be nearer the R800 000 mark when it does arrive.
