Volvo wagons have always had a certain ‘soccer mom’ image, but the V60 Polestar is a bit different. Only the most stylish, aggressive, and adrenaline fueled mom’s will be rolling in this new Swedish rocket.
When I went on the Volvo V60 US launch a few weeks ago, Volvo executives wouldn’t go all the way to confirming that a performance tuned version was in the works, but they did hint. As it turns out, their hints fell short of just how impressive this thing is. Polestar’s in-house tuners really did themselves proud here.
For starters, V60 Polestar packs a twin-scroll turbocharged version of Volvo’s outgoing 3.0-liter six cylinder T6 engine. It may be about to be replaced with a new four-cylinder, mysteriously also called a T6, but what a swansong! It churns out 345 horsepower and even better 369 pound-feet of disciplined Scandinavian torques. All that oomph is good for 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and 50 to 75 mph in an identical 4.7 seconds. What that shows is that there is torque and acceleration all over the place in this motor’s rev band.
Polestar didn’t just stop under the hood, because this car’s suspension and all-wheel drive has also gotten a workout. The custom shocks and springs are up to 80 percent stiffer than the already excellent ones found on the S60 R-Design performance model. Combine that with the new brakes, which I believe are technically described as “freaking enormous”, and this sportswagon should stop and turn as well as it goes. Considering that the ordinary V60 is already a pretty exciting car with just 260 hp, front wheel drive, and a regular suspension, I suppose you could say I am excited.
But to me, the best part of this wagon are the looks. The V60 is already a handsome beast, but the Polestar is pretty spectacular. The profile is more shooting brake than wagon, but you can still see the boxy Volvo DNA. Add in the bespoke 20 inch rims give the car a unique combination of an aggressive stance and refined looks. Combine that with the awesome ‘Rebel Blue’ paint and you have a truly special look.
Unfortunately, the looks won’t be the only thing that’s rare or special about this car, because Volvo and Polestar are only planning on bringing 120 of these cars to the United States, and that includes the sedan versions. Combine that with a price tag that is likely to come in the $50,000 to $60,000 range, and this car isn’t going to be for everybody. But if you are into sportswagons than nothing else comes close for cool.
