Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar updated with carbon bits

Volvo has given its S60 and V60 Polestar models a subtle refresh for the 2018 model year. The high-performance sedan and wagon gain a smattering of aerodynamic addenda made from carbon fibre, along with a few other visual tweaks inside and out.

Items made from the lightweight material include a front splitter, side skirts and a rear spoiler extension (the latter only on the S60), all of which combine to increase downforce by 30%. The new components, designed to improve grip and high-speed stability, were jointly developed by Polestar and its Cyan Racing offshoot, using data and learnings from the latter’s World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) programme.

Many of these parts were designed and tested during last year’s “secret” test at the Nürburgring, in which an S60 Polestar set the lap record for a road-legal sedan on the punishing Nordschleife circuit.

Other new exterior additions include a gloss black finish on the machined 20-inch alloy wheels, carbon fibre door mirror caps and a new Bursting Blue Metallic hue. Inside, there’s new Nubuck leather upholstery with blue contrast stitching and embroidered Polestar logos.

Elsewhere, the mechanicals are left untouched, so the S60 and V60 Polestar continue to be powered by the Drive-E 2.0 litre turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine introduced last year. It produces 362 hp at 6,000 rpm and 470 Nm from 3,100 to 5,100 rpm, sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Zero to 100 km/h takes 4.7 seconds on the S60 and 4.8 seconds on the V60.

Also unchanged are the chassis upgrades on the Polestar, which include 80% stiffer springs, adjustable Öhlins dampers, a carbon fibre front strut brace and retuned steering. The six-piston Brembo brake callipers and 371 mm slotted brake discs remain, but the pads are new for 2018.

Only 1,500 units will be built, each receiving numbered door sills.

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