Volvo Car UK is enhancing the performance of its award-winning XC90 with a series of Polestar-developed upgrades.

• Increased power and torque for D5 diesel and T6 petrol Drive-E engines
• Performance boost for D4 and T5 Drive-E engines in other Volvo models
• Upgrades available now, priced at £835

Volvo Car UK is enhancing the performance of its award-winning XC90 with a series of Polestar-developed upgrades. This is the first time that Polestar, Volvo’s performance brand, has focussed its attention on the new seven-seat SUV.

Known as Polestar Performance Optimisation, the upgrades improve the power and torque figures of both the D5 diesel and T6 petrol Drive-E engines, particularly at medium revs where it’s most effective. 

They also make the accelerator responses even quicker, and alter the settings of the automatic gearbox to provide faster gearchanges and prevent gearshifts during rapid cornering, which could unsettle the car. 

These quicker and more precise responses to driver commands not only make the driving experience more dynamic, they ensure the car responds predictably during high-speed driving.

The upgrades have been developed and designed by the engineers of Polestar and the racing drivers of Polestar Cyan Racing, the official motorsport partner to Polestar.

Thed Björk, reigning Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) champion and Polestar Cyan Racing driver, said: “The new Polestar optimisation is about making the car more dynamic and responsive to drive. We use the same philosophy as when optimising our race cars, to create a completely balanced package. And this is exactly what we have focussed on with the new-generation optimisations for Volvo cars: powertrain optimisation for real-life driving.”

The maximum output of the D5 Drive-E engine is increased to 233 hp and 500 Nm of torque (up from 225 hp and 470 Nm), while the T6 Drive-E is boosted to 334 hp and 440 Nm (from 320 hp and 400 Nm).

Polestar Performance Optimisations have also been released for the D4 diesel and T5 petrol Drive-E engines in other Volvo models. Like the upgrades to the D5 and T6 engines in the XC90, the aim is to boost medium-rev performance and to make the car’s entire drivetrain react more quickly and accurately to driver commands.

With the Polestar Performance Optimisation, the D4 Drive-E offers 200 hp and 440 Nm (up from 190 hp and 400 Nm), while the output of the T5 Drive-E is raised to 253 hp and 400 Nm (from 245 hp and 350 Nm).

The D4 Drive-E upgrades are available in the S60, V40, V40 Cross Country, V60 and XC60, and the T5 Drive-E enhancements are offered in the V40 and V40 Cross Country.

The price of the D4, D5*, T5 and T6 Polestar upgrades is £835, including VAT and fitting. The work can be carried out at any authorised Volvo dealer, and should take about 30 minutes to complete.

Nick Connor, Managing Director of Volvo Car UK, said: “These new Polestar Performance Optimisations make our cars and Drive-E engines even more dynamic and desirable. The combination of increased power and torque – especially at medium revs – and the changes to make the entire drivetrain more responsive ensure that owners will really feel the difference these optimisations make.”

Finally, until the end of December 2015, all model-year 2005 to model-year 2015 all-wheel-drive Volvos can be upgraded with the Polestar Performance Optimisation at the discounted price of £620, saving £215.

The Polestar upgrades do not affect the certified emissions and fuel consumption figures, service intervals or Volvo warranty cover.

Volvo cars completes the full purchase of Polestar Performance AB.

Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has acquired 100 per cent of Polestar, the Swedish high performance car company, including the Polestar brand. Polestar will now be used as the model name for special high performance Volvos.

Polestar will also in future utilise Volvo’s twin engine electrification technology to develop next generation performance cars.

Volvo is the largest manufacturer of plug in hybrid cars in Europe and leader in advanced vehicle electrification technology. Volvo currently develops and manufactures some of the most powerful, most environmentally-friendly hybrid engines in the automotive industry.

Volvo and Polestar share a long history. They have been working in motor sport since 1996 and in recent years signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop Polestar versions of Volvo cars that combine a comfortable Volvo driving experience with a very high level of power and handling.

“Driving a Volvo Polestar is a special experience. We have decided to bring this experience to more Volvo drivers, placing the full resources of Volvo behind the development of Polestar as the model name for our high performance cars,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and chief executive of Volvo Cars.

In 2015, Volvo expects to sell 750 Polestar versions of the V60 wagon and S60 sedan globally. Polestar sales are forecast to increase to between 1,000 and 1,500 cars a year in the medium term under Volvo’s ownership.

The Polestar brand is already firmly established internationally through the sale of Polestar-branded Volvos. Volvo will also benefit from the sale of aftermarket Polestar performance optimisation kits for existing Volvos.

No financial details of the deal have been disclosed. Existing Polestar Performance employees will become Volvo employees.

The Polestar racing team will remain under the control of Christian Dahl, the former owner of Polestar, and will be renamed. The Polestar brand will continue to work alongside Christian Dahl.

“We are extremely satisfied with the way the performance business with Volvo has developed. But we are a racing team first and foremost. This is an opportunity to return our full attention to our core business – to develop and race Volvo cars,” said Christian Dahl.

Additional Information

Volvo has acquired Polestar Performance AB, which comprises performance activities including performance-related software and aftermarket tuning hardware, as well as Polestar Holding AB, which is the owner of the Polestar trademarks. It has not acquired the racing division of Polestar.

The Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar feature a 350 horse power T6 engine, making the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.9 seconds, and an extensively developed chassis. The car demonstrates Volvo’s and Polestar’s engineering philosophy of delivering an engaging, precise and confident driving experience.

Polestar Performance Optimisations offer increased mid-range engine performance in combination with supporting changes for the gearbox and throttle response to make the car more dynamic and responsive to drive.