FOR a while now, Volvo has been giving customers the option of 'optimising' the performance of their new car through its Polestar division, writes William Scholes.
Latest to get the treatment is the new XC60, with a Polestar upgrade liberating up to 415bhp in the T8 version. Which is a lot of horsepower in a family wagon...
The Polestar optimisation improves five key areas of the powertrain while retaining the Volvo warranty and the T8's class-leading emission levels, fuel consumption and 28-mile pure electric range.
Engine performance, throttle response, off-accelerator response and gearshift speed and hold are all enhanced.
"Our goal is to create useable performance in everyday driving situations for Volvo owners who want an enhanced driving experience," said Henrik Fries from Polestar.
"The new XC60 has provided us with an excellent base to work on with a dynamic chassis and a state-of-the-art powertrain.
"With the Polestar optimisation, it makes the new Volvo XC60 a true drivers' car."
Two key features of the optimisation are the improved engine performance and gearbox functionality.
The enhancements for the engine are made to provide greater power and torque in the middle of the rev range, the area most often used in everyday driving, for example when joining a motorway or when overtaking or exiting a corner.
The gearbox shifts faster, gearshift points have been calibrated to utilise the optimised mid-range engine performance, and the gear-hold function maintains the same ratio when cornering with high lateral g-force in order to avoid unsettling the balance of the car.
A total of four XC60 models are available for Polestar optimisation in Northern Ireland, including the T8, T5, D5 and D4.
For the D5, the Polestar optimisation boosts peak power from 232bhp to 237bhp, and peak torque from 354lb.ft to 369lb.ft. The 0-62 mph time is also cut from 7.2 to 7.1 seconds.
