Before Volvo and Polestar turn their attention to full-electric cars - they've upped the anti with their new mid-size SUV.
With as much as 303kW of power and 640Nm of torque in top-spec T8 trim, the latest generation of Polestar powertrain optimisation packages for the new Volvo XC60 offer a significant increase over the standard model - so much so that the T8 matches the Polestar optimised XC90 as the most powerful road-going production Volvo ever made.
Polestar say the optimisation improves 'five key areas of the powertrain' while retaining the Volvo warranty, two of the areas being engine performance and gearbox functionality.
Gearshifts are now faster, and gearshift points have been re-calibrated to optimise the mid-range torque of the engine. The gear-hold function will now also hold the same gear when cornering quickly to avoid unsettling the balance of the car.
The throttle has also been tweaked for quicker response both on and off the gas, and the engine has been slightly re-tuned to deliver more power.
Volvo say the enhancements are designed to boost performance for everyday-driving, like when joining a highway, overtaking or exiting a corner.
”Our goal is to create usable performance in everyday driving situations for Volvo owners who want an enhanced driving experience,” said Henrik Fries, Vice President, Research and Development at Polestar.
“The new XC60 has provided us with an excellent base to work on with a dynamic chassis and a state of the art powertrain. With the Polestar optimisation, it makes the new Volvo XC60 a true drivers’ car.”
Four XC60 models are available for Polestar optimisation include the T8, T5, D5 and D4. The first Volvo XC60 SUVs are expected to arrive in New Zealand before 2018.
