Volvo have released details as well as a handful of teaser images of the performance-oriented version of their upcoming third-gen S60 sedan.
The latest version of the performance sedan will be called the S60 Polestar Engineered and will be revealed alongside the standard S60 on the 20th June 2018. You would recall Polestar ‘splitting’ from Volvo, to become the standalone performance electrification brand of the Volvo Car Group.
And with that, Polestar is now offering performance upgrade items for the T8 Twin Engine variant of the soon-to-be-revealed S60, which will sit one level above the R-Design models.
The S60 Polestar Engineered will also gain Brembo brakes, Ohlins shock absorbers, and some other hardware derived from the Polestar 1 plug-in hybrid coupe. Lastly, a re-map of the ECU increases the electrified 2.0-litre T8 twin engine's output from 294kw to 305kw. The torque output too increases from 640nm to 670nm. The software upgrades improve fuel consumption and emissions-neutral performance, and refines the automatic gear selection. Polestar has yet to quote any performance figures.
Worth remembering is that the previous S60 Polestar made do with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine linked to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, utilizing a combination of turbocharging and supercharging to yield 270kw and 470nm. Thanks to all-wheel drive, it managed 0-100kph in just 4.9 seconds.
And like the Polestar 1, all Polestar Engineered Volvos will now feature gold-painted bits (like brake calipers, seatbelts, etc) starting with the new S60 Polestar.
The new S60 is due to launch in South Africa next year. At this stage the Polestar Engineered derivative is not yet confirmed for the local market.
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FAQ
Q: What does the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered cost in South Africa?
The S60 Polestar Engineered pricing for South Africa hasn't been confirmed yet since Volvo hasn't officially announced whether this performance variant will even make it to our shores, though the standard S60 range typically starts around R650,000.
Q: How much power does the S60 Polestar Engineered produce?
The S60 Polestar Engineered pumps out 305kW and 670Nm from its electrified 2.0-litre T8 twin engine, which is a decent bump up from the standard T8's 294kW and 640Nm.
Q: Is the Volvo S60 Polestar Engineered faster than the previous S60 Polestar?
While Volvo hasn't released official performance figures for the new S60 Polestar Engineered, it should be quicker than the previous S60 Polestar's 4.9-second 0-100kph time thanks to the extra 35kW of power and hybrid assistance.
Q: When will the S60 Polestar Engineered be available in South Africa?
The standard S60 launches in South Africa in 2019, but Volvo hasn't confirmed if the Polestar Engineered derivative will be offered in our market at all.
Q: What makes the S60 Polestar Engineered different from regular S60 models?
The Polestar Engineered gets Brembo brakes, Ohlins shock absorbers, ECU remapping for more power, gold-painted details like brake callipers and seatbelts, plus hardware borrowed from the Polestar 1 coupe.
Should You Buy It?
Here's the thing, you can't actually buy the S60 Polestar Engineered in South Africa because Volvo hasn't confirmed it's coming here. If it does arrive, expect pricing around R850,000 to R950,000 based on the performance upgrades and Polestar branding. The 305kW hybrid powertrain sounds brilliant on paper, and those Ohlins dampers should make it handle like a dream, but you'll have to settle for the regular S60 T8 for now. Your best bet for Swedish performance under R1,000,000 in SA remains waiting to see if Volvo changes their mind about bringing this golden-detailed beauty to our shores.
