Volvo Adds Polestar Performance Upgrades for T6 AWD Models

If Volvo continues the company’s investment in its Polestar division, it could become the Swedish answer to Mercedes’ in-house tuner, AMG. For those unfamiliar with Polestar, the company was once a separate entity that built Volvo’s racecars. Now that Volvo has purchased Polestar, the automaker is doubling down on its acquisition by offering a new dynamic option directly from the in-house tuner.
Called Polestar Performance Optimization, this option includes upgrades for all-wheel-drive T6 Volvo models to “provide a better, more balanced and dynamic driving experience.” The performance pack is now available for AWD T6 models of the S60 sedan, V60 wagon, along with the XC60 and XC90 crossovers.
Volvo XC60 T6 AWD With Polestar Optimization

According to Volvo and Polestar, the upgrades address five important areas to provide better performance. Throttle response has been sharpened, and the transmission delivers faster shifts to provide a better response when cycling through the gears on a track. Additionally, Polestar improved the car’s off-throttle response for better engine management while braking or cornering. Finally, Polestar upgraded the T6 Drive-E engine, a turbo- and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, for better mid-range engine performance and improved acceleration.

“The already powerful and agile T6 AWD models become even more dynamic and responsive to drive with the Polestar Optimisation. We have spent countless hours on creating a balanced package for performance oriented Volvo drivers, using the same philosophy and methods as for our race and performance cars,” stated Thed Bjork, Polestar’s development driver, in a statement.

Volvo hasn’t yet released pricing for the Polestar package, but it will likely cost a few thousand dollars more than the existing, sport-oriented R-Design trim.

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