Volvo S60 Polestar Concept

25 January 2013

With the glamour and bright lights that symbolize the City of Angels, what better place for the global auto show debut of the Volvo S60 Polestar Concept than the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show? After all, the 508-horsepower beast, built by Volvo's official performance partner, Polestar, is arguably the most glamorous and lightning-quick Volvo concept car ever made.

"This is Polestar's interpretation of the Volvo S60," says Christian Dahl, founder and CEO of Polestar. "It's a car developed with our own preferences in mind -- although we know they are also shared by active drivers."

Make no mistake, it is an exotic in its own right -- but with refinement and precise handling. All of this technology results in a more intense, real-life Volvo driving experience.

"We approached this project by looking at the production Volvo S60 as a platform for a potential race car -- and the culmination of that data went into the design of the S60 Polestar Concept," explained Jan Andersson, chief engineer at Polestar.

The S60 Polestar Concept delivers the genuine Volvo driving experience with a high level of power and handling. The turbocharged, inline six-cylinder engine has been tuned to deliver a considerable increase in power and torque. The 508 horsepower and 575Nm of torque seem to dwarf the numbers associated with the horsepower and torque found in the T6 engine of the production car: 304 horsepower and 440Nm of torque.

The combination of a lowered, widened and reinforced chassis, a tuned Haldex all-wheel-drive system, and Öhlins suspension makes the car uniquely suitable for both high-performance driving and long-distance traveling.

According to Volvo Polestar racing driver Robert Dahlgren, "It is, by far, the most impressive street Volvo I've ever driven. But I must also say that the genuine Volvo feeling is still there."

Polestar has been Volvo's performance partner since 1996, offering tuning technology and parts enhancement to production-model vehicles. The Polestar performance upgrade can be purchased and installed in applicable new and used Volvos at any Volvo dealer. More information about Polestar and its expanding parts and technology offerings for Volvo production vehicles can be found at Polestar.com.

Brief Technical Overview: Polestar S60 Concept

• Volvo T6 inline six
• 0-100 kmh (62 mph) = 3.9 seconds
• Top speed more than 300 kmh (more than 186 mph)
• 508 hp @ 6500rpm
• 575Nm (424 lb.-feet) @ 5500rpm
• Max rpm: 7100
• Modified cylinder head and combustion chambers
• Modified inlet manifold and air intake
• Garret 3171 turbo
• Ferrita 3.5" stainless steel exhaust system

About Polestar

Polestar Performance, with its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, is Volvo Cars' official motorsport and performance partner. Polestar has collaborated with Volvo since 1996 and is currently responsible for all of Volvo's major undertakings in motorsport. Please also refer to the Polestar media site at www.polestar.com/pressroom for additional information.

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