Volvo gets thumping new heart

Polestar, Volvo’s in-house performance arm, will fit the new XC60 SUV with a hi-output hybrid engine to reinvigorate the family wagon for enthusiasts and the eco-conscious respectively.

The Polestar T8 variant upgrade features the XC90’s 2.0-litre four cylinder engine with twin-turbocharging and the aid of a pair of electric motors and a 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery.

The result of this drivetrain transplant is up to 314kW of power in the T8 variant, and includes the T6, T5, D5 and D4 iterations of the XC60 SUV. Quoted fuel consumption on the manufacturer’s bench test cycle is 2.1l/100km and a pure-electric mode range of 45km in T8 guise.

It comes just days after announcing Volvo will become an all-electric vehicle manufacturer by 2019.

Torque from the current new XC90 T8 hybrid varies between 240Nm in EV-only mode, 400Nm in petrol-only mode, and an added 150Nm from the CISG, a crankshaft-mounted starter motor designed to shift smoothly from electric to hybrid modes, while acting as a torque boost for the petrol engine. The XC90’s T8 hybrid drivetrain is a $20,000 option.

Volvo says the upgrade offers faster gearshifts, better calibrated gear shift points to utilise the mid-range performance and a gear-hold ability to maintain balance when cornering with high lateral g-force.

“The new XC60 has provided us with an excellent base to work on with a dynamic chassis and a state of the art powertrain,” Polestar vice president of research and development Henrik Fries says.

“Our goal is to create usable performance in everyday driving situations for Volvo owners who want an enhanced driving experience. Polestar optimisation makes the new XC60 a true drivers’ car,” he adds.

The Chinese-owned Swedish luxury brand has seen enormous 177 per cent growth in 2016, selling 1486 vehicles.