Volvo S60 Polestar 2011 Review

I did so want to believe the soon to be sole surviving Swedish carmaker was sponsoring the star turn of a Stockholm gentlemen's club.

Yet while the model's designation might make for base humour, this limited edition sports tourer is no laughing matter. The meekest throttle opening makes that abundantly apparent. Polestar is Volvo's motorsport and performance partner.

This house of fast cars (not fast women) has devised the software solution by which the already impressive 3.0-litre inline turbo six of the S60 becomes weapons grade.

While there's but 50 to be had, a positive reception all but guarantees further such gambits from Volvo Australia. We wager this is a cert.

VALUE

At $82,990, the Polestar carries no slight premium over the T6 with an R-Design kit and sports suspension. Essentially the extra $10k gets bespoke wheel/tyres, computerised zap, diffuser and exhaust. 

But in addition to this and the un-Germanly high spec of the T6, the Polestar brings the allure of virtual uniqueness. Volvo undertake to protect the investment by resisting the temptation to bring in more of this edition.

Each is individually numbered and further distinguished by a discreet but distinctive Polestar badge hard by the R-Design logo. It's a subtle, desirable addition to a car that scarcely lacks on-road presence, an aspect enhanced by 19-inch Heico alloys around which are wrapped 254/35 Pirelli P Zeros with a ride height dopped by  by 15mm.

DESIGN

Volvo having mercifully dispensed with the "a bit naughty" ad campaign, we can now enjoy the lines of arguably the handsomest four door on the road free of the compulsion to grind teeth and clench fists.

If it's true certain Asian auto house designers don't so much as sharpen a pencil until they've got an eyeful of the latest wares of their Euro contemporaries (and let's face it, they don't), it'll be treat to see affordable renderings of this distinctive sedan.

Captivating enough unenhanced, the S60 appears full of intent and even predatory with the R-Design/Polestar treatment. It's in the eye of the beholder, to be sure, but do make mine white. Within all seats, particularly those up front manage the rare feat of being both supportive through bends and comfortbale over the long haul.

TECHNOLOGY

This is a tuning package, Volvo are at pains to emphasize, that is not achieved via a chip not a plug in nor by any means of the tuner's dark art. Rather it's a bespoke software application that boosts the blown inline six's already formidable output by 18kW and 40Nm to a blistering 242kW/480Nm. That's better than the recently discarded V8 of the bigger S80 saloon.

This is got to the road in an orderly and effective fashion via a six-speed Aisin torque converter auto (there being no in-house twin clutch transmission to handle all this twist) and an on-demand all-wheel-drive that kicks at 1/16th of a rotation variation in wheel speeds. Effectively that's instantaneous.

SAFETY

Too often Volvo road tests read like a cut and paste of the safety spec, so volumous is aspect. We'll spare you that, save to once more enthuse about the effectiveness of the Volvo's blind spot warning system and, in this instance patricularly, superb brakes that have cosiderable bite without breaking the ABS barrier.

Almost equally reptitively, the S60/V60 range's massive caveat remains the absence of any sort of spare tyre. A boot space eating space saver package is a cost option. This appalling omission arguably cost the S60 entrant  the otherwise excellent T4  Carsguide's Car of the Year.

DRIVING

Volvo people are at pains to paint their Polestar as anything but an M car or AMG, more an equivalent to the BMW and Merc below that exalted level. At any rate, the Polestar is a hugely able sporting grand tourer, rather than a sports sedan per se. Off the mark performance is rapid  the 0-100km/h time is shaved back to 5.8 seconds. Save for front wheel chirrup as the traction control kicks in, delivery is almost completely linear.

That can't be said of the steering, which even in the lesser models is just a bit too abrupt off centre and more so here due to the rigid walls of the specially selected Pirellis. Not that it's innacurate or, at at about 2.7 turns lock-to-lock, overly quick.

Rather this slightly artifical feel makes you think twice about exploiting the immense grip and corner carving potential that would surely approach  its klick crushing straight line capability. Tyre roar on coarser surfaces and a rigid, but generally complaint, ride are more than acceptable trade-offs not only for the dynamic but the visual enhancement they provide.

VERDICT

A blessing to the eye with soul-stirring performance to match, the Polestar is a fine alternative Euro. In the absence of genuinely new models, look forward to more such digressions from the Volvo norm.

VOLVO S60 T6 POLESTAR

Price: $82,990
Warranty: 3 years unlimited
Resale: 44 per cent
Crash Rating: Five stars
Engine: 3.0-litre tutrbo inline six; 242kW/480Nm
Body: four door five seats Dimensions: 4628mm (L); 1865 (width); 1484 (h); 2776 (wb)
Weight: 1684kg
Transmission: Six-speed automatic; AWD
Economy: 10.2L/100km; 243g Co2 per km