Volvo expands Polestar range

From today, Volvo Car Australia is extending the range on which it will offer its Polestar software tuning package. Originally offered on S60 R-Design variants, the package sees significant increases in output of T6-powered (six-cylinder turbocharged petrol) model variants by increasing the pressure (or boost) to Volvo’s fast-spooling turbocharger and recalibrating the engine management system and throttle mapping. The upshot is a rise in power of 18kW to 242 and a 40Nm increase in torque to 480Nm. The increase sees S60 and V60 T6 R-Design Polestar models accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds (down from 6.1) and 5.9 seconds (down from 6.2) respectively. The XC60 T6 R-Design hits triple figures on 7.0 seconds (down from 7.3), while the diesel-powered XC60 D5 R-Design Polestar now outputs 169kW/470Nm (up from 158kW/440Nm) to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.1 seconds (down from 8.3). Pocket rocket C30 T5 R-Design scores similar output gains, its cracking five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine developing 184kW/370Nm (up from 169kW/320Nm). This translates to a 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds for the manual model and 6.8 seconds for the automatic (down from 6.7 and 7.1 seconds respectively). Volvo says that while each of its Polestar enhanced models offers better acceleration and mid-range power delivery, fuel economy and CO2 emissions are retained at the same levels of the standard model. Polestar models are designated only by a discreet blue badge on the rear of the vehicle. "Australia is a performance-oriented market and this software optimisation in a number of our key products allows us to broaden the depth of performance offerings from Volvo, " explained Volvo Car’s Australia managing director, Matt Braid. "By adding Polestar's performance software to select R-Design models, we are able to optimise our performance models further and give the discerning buyer a true stealth weapon option." Volvo R-Design Polestar pricing: - C30 T5 R-Design $43,490 (man) / $44,990 (auto) - S60 T6 R-Design $75,490 (auto) - V60 T6 R-Design $78,490 (auto) - XC60 D5 R-Design $72,490 (auto) - XC60 T6 R-Design $78,490 (auto)