Volvo’s performance arm – Polestar, has introduced powertrain enhancements for the new XC60. With Polestar’s optimisations, the XC60 T8 delivers 421 horsepower, matching the optimised XC90 T8 as the most powerful Volvo models ever built.
The Polestar optimisation improves five key areas of the powertrain while retaining the Volvo warranty and a pure electric range of 45 kilometres for the T8. The motorsport partner of Polestar has transformed the engine performance, throttle response, off-throttle response, gearshift speed and hold.
”Our goal is to create usable performance in everyday driving situations for Volvo owners who want an enhanced driving experience,” said Henrik Fries, Vice President, Research and Development at Polestar. Two key features of the optimisation are the improved engine performance and gearbox functionality.
The updates for the engine are made to provide greater power and torque in the mid-range of the engine, the area most often used in everyday-driving, for example when joining a highway, overtaking or exiting a corner.
The gearbox shifts faster, gearshift points have been calibrated to utilise the mid-range engine performance, and the gear-hold function maintains the same gear when cornering with high lateral g-force in order to avoid unsettling the balance of the car.
A total of five XC60 models are available for Polestar optimisation, including the T8, T6, T5, D5 and D4.
