Volvo and its performance partner Polestar have decided that it’s about time the S60 be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. The result is the frankly bonkers S60 Polestar Performance concept; a 379 kW and 575 N.m two-fingered salute to the Germans.
At the heart of this most volatile Volvo sits a reworked version of the company’s T6 turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. It develops a mighty 379 kW and 575 N.m of torque, all of which is channelled to the tarmac via a Haldex Gen4 XWD all-wheel drive system. According to Volvo, if you can get the workings of the close-ratio manual gearbox just right, it’s possible to launch the S60 Polestar Performance concept from standstill to 100 km/h in just 3,9 seconds. A top speed has not yet been confirmed, but the company’s press release gives a figure in excess of 300 km/h.
In keeping with the performance on offer, the Polestar-fettled S60 features a model-specific body kit that incorporates a rear spoiler, a revised front apron and a rear bumper that has been modified to accommodate the Ferrita stainless steel exhaust system. The car rolls on a set of lightweight alloys with Polestar centre caps and is finished in light Polestar blue. Volvo was sparing with the interior detailing, the only noticeable feature being Polestar-branded bucket seats and a mildly reworked facia to improve ergonomics for aggressive driving (read move the gearlever closer to the steering wheel).
BMW M and Mercedes-Benz/AMG can breathe easily for now, as Volvo has not yet given the S60 Polestar Performance concept the go-ahead for production. But given the fact that this concept (a thinly veiled term here) looks close enough to production-ready, there could be a new performance saloon star in town very soon.
