Protean Polestar

Is there more to the Polestar branded Volvo S60 than a bright paint job and a punchier motor?

- Ravi Ved

In India, the Volvo brand is renowned for its buses, safety, and the remarkable pricing of its passenger vehicles – this is despite the fact that Volvo Buses and Volvo Cars have absolutely nothing to do with each other, other than a historical connection of course. What Volvo isn’t necessarily known for is performance, at least not yet! But that’s about to change now that the Swedish carmaker has introduced the 2017 S60 Polestar. This one has the same powerplant as on the S60 T6, albeit with some modifications to improve the output. But is there more than meets the eye? We took it for a quick spin at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore to find out.

In terms of design, there isn’t much to differentiate the S60 Polestar from the standard model. However, there are a few differences that you can easily spot. The grille and the bumpers have been redesigned and now have piano black accents that give the car a sporty appeal. The car gets new 20-inch alloy wheels that are limited to the Polestar model. The black ORVMs, twin exhausts and the rear spoiler all add a sense of energy to the S60 Polestar’s design. And it isn’t all about form – Volvo claims that the front splitter and rear spoiler help increase downforce, thereby improving handling dynamics. But more on that later. Aside from these changes, the car flaunts its performance lineage with Polestar badges on the front grille and the boot lid. Although it’s a relatively old design, with cosmetic changes to suit its Polestar lineage, the design still strikes the right cord. We miss the famed Thor’s hammer headlights though.