A new limited-edition Volvo S60 Polestar arrives in June, boasting more power than even the 325-hp S60 R-Design model. For now, though, Volvo is just testing the market response to the car in Australia before considering other markets for the S60 Polestar, which has a number of suspension upgrades and is said to be capable of 0-62 mph sprints in 4.9 seconds.
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While we'd all like to drive a car like the 500+ hp S60 Polestar concept, Volvo's S60 Polestar will be more accessible to a greater number of enthusiasts. The hot sedan has a Polestar-tuned Haldex all-wheel-drive system as well as a launch control system. Along with upgraded brakes and Ohlins dampers, the car's engine makes use of a bigger turbo, new intercooler, revised engine mapping, and a racing exhaust with 345 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque (up from 354 lb-ft on the R-Design model). The shocks are 80 percent stiffer than stock and Volvo claims the S60 Polestar's weight is unchanged from that of the S60 R-Design model.
"The Volvo S60 Polestar is ... our first step to a production car available to the customers," said Robert Dahlgren, Volvo Polestar Racing driver.
Motor Trend's long-term 300-hp S60 T6 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, compared to the S60 Polestar's manufacturer-estimated 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds. For more on the S60 Polestar concept, read our Track Test here.
Though the stock S60 is already a good-looker, the S60 Polestar features a unique body kit, Polestar badges, and 19-inch wheels with 235/40R19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. One thing the special-edition model apparently doesn't get is the 2014 S60's facelift, as the photos show a pre-refresh front end design. In the U.S., the Volvo S60 R-Design carries an MSRP of $44,995. Should Volvo bring the S60 Polestar to the U.S. as a limited-edition model?
Source: Volvo
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
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