Volvo releases software upgrade for its All-Wheel Drive cars

The Polestar-developed software upgrade will deliver more torque to the rear wheels in All-Wheel-Drive Volvos.

Volvo has introduced a new Polestar-developed software upgrade which will modify the existing torque distribution of Volvo cars equipped with All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) by sending more torque to the rear wheels. This rear-bias is meant to make the driving experience more dynamic. The software upgrade increases the amount and frequency of torque distributed to the rear wheels, thereby improving steering with enhanced turn-in, better control and much more engagement when cornering. It will also help in improving traction when pulling away.

The new rear-wheel torque distribution feature adds another optimisation area to the latest Polestar software upgrade. The five existing areas include sharper throttle response, faster off-throttle response, quicker gear changes, optimised gearshift points and in-corner gear holding, as well as increased engine output.

'We are always fine-tuning the driving experience of Volvo cars, and this upgrade makes the all-wheel-drive both smoother and more dynamic,' said Henrik Green, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Volvo Cars. The AWD optimisation is engaged simply by selecting the Dynamic drive mode, or when the Electronic Stability Control is disengaged.

The Polestar AWD optimisation will be available for petrol and diesel models of the Volvo 90 series, 60 series and XC40 cars from August 2018. However, plug-in hybrid models, including the T6 Twin Engine and T8 Twin Engine derivatives, which feature an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) system that utilises electric power only on the rear wheels, already provide a rear-drive bias and do not require further AWD optimisation.