Volvo Cars has announced that it has developed a new electrified performance package (dubbed “Polestar Engineered”) for the upcoming 60 Series T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid derivatives.
The announcement comes shortly before the Swedish automaker is expected to unveil its new S60 sedan, which will be built in Charleston, South Carolina. The Polestar Engineered package will debut on the T8 Twin Engine version of the upcoming S60 sedan, and will be positioned above the R Design derivatives.
In addition, Volvo confirmed that Polestar Engineered would be offered on the new V60 estate and XC60 SUV from 2019, and would be available “globally in limited numbers”.
Volvo says the package applies Polestar’s “performance engineering expertise” to the vehicle’s wheels, brakes, suspension and engine control unit. Tweaks to the latter will hike the peak outputs of the S60’s 2,0-litre electrified T8 Twin Engine to 305 kW and 670 N.m, with Volvo furthermore claiming an improvement in fuel consumption. On paper, that would see the Polestar-fettled S60 outpunch the likes of the Audi S4, BMW 340i and Mercedes-AMG C43.
The upgrade will include new lightweight alloys framing gold-painted brake callipers, with that hue set to become the new signature colour for Polestar Engineered components. Polestar emblems, black-chrome tailpipes and gold-coloured seat belts also serve to identify these flagship models.
Volvo says the Brembo mono-block brake callipers are cast in one piece and “optimised for rigidity”, the brake pads boast “increased heat tolerance” and the brake discs feature a slotted design.
Suspension tweaks include the addition of Öhlins shock absorbers with dual-flow valves, as well as the adoption of strut bar and adjustable shock absorber designs from the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid performance car.
“Electric cars are our future,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “Today starts a new era of Volvo electrified models enhanced by Polestar’s performance engineering prowess. This strategy is firmly grounded in our shared belief in an electric future for the car industry.”
