Polestar punch for US-market Volvo T5

Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) has taken the pioneering step of offering a power-up option for T5-engined C30, C70 and S40 models. It is the first time a performance software package, complete with factory warranty, has been made available by Volvo in the US and follows Volvo Australia’s teaser S60 Performance Project at this year’s International Motor Show in Melbourne.

The US option comes as Volvo, In conjunction with long-time tuning partner and motorsport team Polestar, has developed tuning software that lifts both power and torque of the five-cylinder T5 engine by roughly 10 per cent, at an installed price of US$1295.

Working off Australian T5 specifications, the package theoretically increases power from 169kW to 186kW, and torque from 320Nm to 359Nm.

VCNA says the extra power comes at no cost to fuel consumption. This is attributed to “Polestar’s efficient tuning of the engine, which only increases the power output when it is needed.”

Volvo’s press release says the extra power and torque comes from increasing airflow into the combustion chambers, as well as advancing the ignition timing.

"Our performance-oriented customers have told us they wanted a tuning option for their vehicles," said Chris Dauerer, VCNA's vice president of customer service. "With Polestar, we are able to unlock the power potential of our engines which leads to impressive acceleration and a more memorable driving experience.”

VCNA says the Polestar software package would be “available soon” for manual transmission V50 AWD models. The package is available in the US for T5-engined C30, C70 and S40 models built from 2008 onwards.

At the time, Volvo Car Australia managing director Matt Braid described the hot S60 displayed at this year’s Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne as a “performance project” and did not mention the likelihood of it – or a development of it – going into production other than indicating it was using the Performance Project to gauge public reaction.

But Volvo Car Australia has now announced the powered-up models will definitely be coming to Australia — and the local launch is scheduled for December 14.

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