Last year, Volvo tuner Polestar teased the world with a 508 horsepower S60 sedan that sadly never made it to mass production.
Now the teasing is over: the S60 Polestar is headed for production, albeit slightly toned down from the original concept. There will even be a V60 Polestar wagon, and both models will be sold in the United States.
The two cars are based on the refreshed 2015 Volvo S60 and V60; the latter marks the triumphant return of the Volvo wagon to the U.S.
Under the hood of each car is a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine, producing 350 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. That’s not as much as the original S60 Polestar concept, but it is enough to hurl these lumps of Swedish metal to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.
Helping get that power to the ground is a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and a specially-tuned Haldex all-wheel drive system. Other changes to the chassis include 80-percent stiffer springs, custom Ohlins dampers, and increased structural rigidity.
The kicker is that, on the outside, both cars still look like Volvos. Take away the superlatively-bright “Rebel Blue” paint, and it would be hard to tell the Polestars apart from ordinary S60s and V60s. Visual modifications are limited to subtle aerodynamic aids (front splitter, rear diffuser and spoiler) and 20-inch Polestar wheels.
So if you want the ultimate sleeper car, place your order now. Polestar will begin deliveries in June 2014. Pricing and final production numbers will be revealed closer to that date.
American enthusiasts often miss out on the hottest European performance models, but not this time. Let’s hope the S60 and V60 Polestars aren’t the last of their kind to make the trip across the Atlantic.
