Volvo S60 Polestar :Everything you want to know about ADV News, Photos & Exclusive stories.

Is there more to the Polestar branded Volvo S60 than a punchier motor?&nbsp;

In India, the Volvo brand is renowned for its buses, safety and the remarkable pricing of its passenger vehicles. What it isn’t known for, is performance, at least not as yet! But that is about to change now that the Swedish car maker has introduced the 2017 S60 Polestar. This one has been plonked with the same powerplant that worked on the S60 T6, albeit with some modifications to improve the output. But is there more than meets the eye? We took it for a quick spin at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore to find out more.

<img alt="Volvo S60 Polestar Front Three Quarter Static" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-96327" src="/uploads/2017/04/2017-Volvo-S60-Polestar-front-three-quarter-static-m.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

In terms of design, there isn't much differentiating the S60 Polestar from the standard model. In fact, it even shares the same silhouette. However, there are a few differences that you can easily spot. The grille and the bumpers have been redesigned and now have piano black accents that give the car a sporty appeal. The car gets new 20-inch alloy wheels that are limited to the Polestar model. From the black ORVMs, twin exhausts to the rear spoiler all add a sense of energy to the S60 Polestar’s design. And it isn't all about form - Volvo claims that the front splitter and rear spoiler help increase downforce thereby giving it better handling dynamics, but more on that later. Aside from these changes, of course, the car flaunts its performance lineage – with Polestar badges on the front grille and the boot lid. Although it is a relatively old car with cosmetic changes to suit its Polestar lineage, the design still strikes the right cord.&nbsp;We miss the famed Thor’s hammer headlights though.

<img alt="2017 Volvo S60 Polestar Interior Dashboard" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-96330" src="/uploads/2017/04/2017-Volvo-S60-Polestar-interior-dashboard-m.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

The story is somewhat similar on the inside with just a few badges and minor changes that hint at it being a Polestar. While it has a few additions like some carbon fibre trim on the dashboard, Polestar badged door sill/gear lever and aluminium sports pedals, we would have loved to see a few more distinguishing factors. The overall dashboard layout remains identical to the S60. We didn't quite like the number of buttons on the infotainment system – it has started to show its age, especially after experiencing the large touchscreen on the XC90 and the S90. Wrapped in Nappa leather with contrast blue stitching, the seats are superbly supportive. Unlike most performance offerings, the cushioning isn’t overly firm either. There is ample of space at the back as well, which makes it a great performance car for a family man. Kudos to Volvo for finding the right balance of comfort and sporty appeal.

<img alt="Volvo S60 Polestar Badge" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-96325" src="/uploads/2017/04/2017-Volvo-S60-Polestar-badge-m.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

Although Volvo debuts the Polestar moniker in India with this 2017 model, it isn’t the first to be made globally. This 2017 iteration gives the old 3.0-litre straight-six unit the boot and in place comes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder mill. In line with the current trend of downsizing engines, Volvo expectedly has managed to pull out 367 horses, instead of 345 from its predecessor - an increase of nearly 60 horses over the S60 T6. Now this engine, like the one on the S60 T6 is twin charged too but that isn’t the only way the additional output has been achieved. We are talking larger intake, a bigger turbo and some major weight savings in certain engine components. All of this helps the S60 Polestar in touching the 100km/h market from standstill in just 4.7 seconds and attain a top speed of 250km/h. That’s somewhat impressive, but how is it to drive?

Let’s get one thing out of the way, the Volvo S60 Polestar will not thrill as much as a V6 powered car. But then it is brutal to make the comparison anyway. The fact that it is twin-charged really works in the favour of the S60 Polestar – the supercharger essentially eliminates the lag lower down the rev range while the turbo kicks in soon after, resulting in an extremely linear power delivery. There is enough power to keep you entertained but it won’t push you back in the seat and make the rest of the world seem like it’s in slow motion. Aside from the regular Drive and Sports modes, the S60 Polestar has a hidden Sport Plus mode. What do you mean ‘hidden’? To activate the Sport Plus mode, you need to first slot the gear lever in ‘S’, come to a standstill and then simultaneously push the gear lever forward while pressing the downshift paddle. This mode is essentially for spirited driving as it ensures that the engine speed doesn’t fall below 4,000rpm.

<img alt="Volvo S60 Polestar Gear Lever" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-96328" src="/uploads/2017/04/2017-Volvo-S60-Polestar-gear-lever-m.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

The S60 Polestar is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission which shifts seamlessly. In conjunction with the gearbox, the power is sent to all four wheels – while it is a front-wheel biased system in general, in the Sports mode the power is split 50:50.

While the car is based on same platform as the standard model, it sports a mmuch-sophisticated suspension setup sourced from Ohlins. To keep the cost and weight in check, this setup isn’t one that you can electronically adjust with the push of a button. Front suspensions can be adjusted by accessing it by opening the bonnet while at the back you will have to jack it up and access it by dropping the rear seat. Being a sports sedan you’d assume that the S60 Polestar has a back-breaking stiff ride but it isn’t so. We drove the car at the Kari Motor Speedway where the surface is now quite bumpy in a few corners. The setup is just right for surfaces like these – it doesn’t feel bouncy and at the same time gives it assuring handling dynamics. That being said, it will be interesting to see how it behaves on our inconsistent road surfaces.

<img alt="Volvo S60 Polestar Brake" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-96334" src="/uploads/2017/04/2017-Volvo-S60-Polestar-brake-m.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

Brakes have been upgraded too – a 371mm 6-piston ventilated Brembo disc setup up front and a 302mm disc at the back. We drove the car at the track after quite a few journalists had already done some hot laps at the circuit due to which we didn’t feel sufficient bite from the brakes. We will only be able to give you accurate information when the car comes to us for a test at a later stage.

Over the years, Volvos have come to be known for superior tech and safety, something that they are exceedingly possessive about. Aside from the 6 airbags that come as standard, the S60 Polestar comes fitted with blind spot detection, lane departure warning, anti-collision warning, auto braking, adaptive cruise control and more.

Despite all the performance and tech on offer, Volvo managed to raise a few eyebrows by launching the S60 Polestar at an unbelievable price of Rs 52.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). What you get for the price, is a product that has nailed the outstanding balance of performance and comfort. The beauty of the car is in its versatility – from track days, spirited driving on the hilly roads to doubling up as your regular luxury sedan, the Volvo S60 Polestar can do it all. And then of course, being a Volvo, it is an epitome of safety. Should you buy one then? We’d say most definitely yes! But you will have to hurry as only 30 units of the 2017 S60 Polestar have been allotted for India.

Volvo S60 Polestar Review: First Drive

With tweaks to the bumper, a new pair of alloy wheels and an enthusiastic motor under the hood, the Volvo S60 Polestar is certainly a more involving version of the S60. We drive this Swedish machine at Kari Motor Speedway for a brief review.

Volvo India launches its first ever high performance Polestar model in the country. Here is what you need to know about the S60 Polestar priced at Rs. 52.5 lakh.

Volvo has launched its first Polestar model in India with the S60 badge. Swedish car maker Volvo’s Polestar division is its high performance wing that takes standard Volvo cars and makes thing blisteringly quick. To know more about Volvo’s Polestar division you can read - <a href="https://www.autox.com/news/car-news/2017-volvo-s60-polestar-preview/">2017 Volvo S60 Polestar: Preview</a>

The S60 Polestar for India comes with a 2.0 litre, four cylinder petrol engine featuring a turbocharger, a supercharger and direct fuel injection. Resulting in the four pot motor churning out an impressive 361bhp @ 7,000 rpm and 470Nm of peak torque between 3,100 rpm to 5,100 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels with torque vectoring via an eight-speed automatic gearbox optimised by Polestar. 0 – 100 km/h is dispatched in 4.7 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

Volvo as we know does things properly, and you would have to when you are operating in the performance car market. As a result, the S60 Polestar comes with an aerodynamics package which packs in a front splitter, air diffuser and a rear spoiler to streamline all that power for maximum impact. Meanwhile 80 per cent stiffer Polestar springs, the shock absorbers are from Ohlins and bigger brakes from Brembo manage the added firepower better. Completing the high performance package for the car are new 20 inch wheels shod with sticky Pilot Super Sport tyres from Michelin.

The Volvo S60 Polestar can now be yours for Rs. 52.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The only other rival to the S60 Polestar in India would be the slightly more powerful Mercedes-Benz C 43 AMG which retails at Rs. 76.19 lakh&nbsp;(ex-showroom Delhi).

Volvo S60 Polestar Launched

Volvo India launches its first ever high performance Polestar model in the country. Here is what you need to know about the S60 Polestar priced at Rs. 52.5 lakh. Volvo has launched its first Polestar model in India with the S60 badge.

Volvo is about to debut its performance sub-division with the new S60 Polestar on 14th April. We put the car under a microscope

What is Polestar?

Most luxury car makers out there have a performance sub-division. Polestar is to Volvo what AMG, M and S/RS are to Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi respectively. The Polestar brand, however, isn’t a new one in the world of four-wheels. Polestar has been racing Volvos since 1996 in various touring car series’ like Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, Australia's V8 Supercars and more. The brand was taken over by Volvo in 2015 and the racing division rechristened Polestar Cyan Racing. Polestar’s takeover by Volvo has not affected their racing endeavours as they now work together as a factory entry contesting the S60 in STCC and WTCC. And that is what brings us the Volvo S60 Polestar.

­What is the Volvo S60 Polestar? 

With the learnings from the race track, Volvo has developed the S60 Polestar. Now this car looks somewhat identical to the standard model except for a few functional and cosmetic changes. It gets sportier looking front and rear bumpers, Polestar badges on the grille and on the boot lid and sporty 20-inch alloy wheels exclusive to the Polestar model. Volvo claims that the front and rear splitter help in increasing the downforce, thereby making it better to drive around corners. Although it shares the same silhouette as the standard S60, it isn’t hard to differentiate between the two. Volvo unveiled the S60 Polestar in the global market April last year.

<img alt="volvo s60 polestar rear m" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-95755" height="336" src="/uploads/2017/04/volvo-s60-polestar-rear-m.jpg" width="642" />

Are the changes just cosmetic?

While will be the first Polestar branded Volvo to debut in India, it is the second generation of the S60 Polestar globally. The first-generation model was plonked with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged motor that produced 345 horses and 500Nm. Going by the current trend of downsizing engines, this new 2017 S60 Polestar hides a 2.0-litre motor under its hood and it churns out 367bhp and 467Nm. To pull out a better output from a downsized motor, the engine has been fitted with a twin charger – that means it comes with a turbocharger as well as a supercharger. On paper this means a quicker and crisper response to throttle inputs, however, we shall bring you a detailed review when we drive it next week.

Update: 14/04/2017

Volvo launches S60 Polestar for Rs. 52.5 lakh.&nbsp;Details inside --&gt;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/car-news/volvo-s60-polestar-launched/">Volvo S60 Polestar Launched</a>

What will it be priced at?

With the XC90 and more recently the S90, Volvo has made it a habit to price their cars extremely competitively and we can expect the S60 Polestar to be no different. The car is expected to be priced at around the Rs 65 lakh mark which put its directly against cars like the Ford Mustang and the Mercedes-AMG C43.

2017 Volvo S60 Polestar: Preview

Volvo is about to debut its performance sub-division with the new S60 Polestar on 14th April. We put the car under a microscope. Most luxury car makers out there have a performance sub-division. Polestar is to Volvo what AMG, M and S/RS are to Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi respectively.

The <a href="https://www.autox.com/reviews/car-reviews/2021-volvo-s60-review-first-drive-108783/">Volvo S60</a> Polestar will be the first performance-oriented car from the Swedish automaker in India.

It’s confirmed! Volvo’s Polestar performance division is all set for its India debut. The Swedish automaker will launch the S60 Polestar in the country, come April 14, 2017. The arrival of the S60 Polestar will mark Volvo’s entry into the high-performance saloon segment and the firm will join the ranks of the likes of the Mercedes’ AMG, BMW’s M-division and Audi’s RS models in India.

The S60 Polestar is based on the standard S60 saloon. However, everything – from the engine to the exterior – has been tinkered here to deliver more oomph than before. Starting with the engine, the S60 Polestar is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged and supercharged petrol motor that develops 362bhp and 470Nm of torque. Power goes to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. 0-100km/h will be done within 4.7 seconds before it hits its electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Keeping tabs on the extra firepower will be 80 per cent stiffer Polestar springs, uprated Brembo brakes and 20-inch Polestar alloy wheels shod with sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber. There's a bit of aero wizardry, too, as this particular version gets front splitters and a rear spoiler and diffuser for increased downforce.

Like every other Volvo car sold in the country, the S60 Polestar will also be brought into the country as a CBU. Price? Volvo is expected to price the S60 Polestar aggressively, so expect it to cost around Rs 60 lakh – Rs 65 lakh in our market.

Also read:&nbsp;<a class="entry-title" href="https://www.autox.com/news/car-news/2017-geneva-motor-show-second-gen-volvo-xc60-unveiled/" rel="bookmark" title="Permalink to 2017 Geneva Motor Show: Second-gen Volvo XC60 unveiled">2017 Geneva Motor Show: Second-gen Volvo XC60 unveiled</a>

Volvo S60 Polestar launch on April 14, 2017

The Volvo S60 Polestar will be the first performance-oriented car from the Swedish automaker in India. It’s confirmed! Volvo’s Polestar performance division is all set for its India debut. The Swedish automaker will launch the S60 Polestar in the country, come April 14, 2017.

Volvo S60 Polestar

Volvo S60 Polestar Review: First Drive

Volvo S60 Polestar Launched

2017 Volvo S60 Polestar: Preview

Volvo S60 Polestar launch on April 14, 2017

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