Volvo S60, V60, XC60 T8 to get the Polestar treatment

Volvo has announced that its standalone performance brand, Polestar, will continue to offer performance upgrades for the Swedish car-maker's core models.

Confirming that 'Polestar Engineered' upgrades will live on following Volvo's decision to spin-off the brand to become a car-maker in its own right, the Swedish company has confirmed a whole host of go-faster goodies will be available on its new S60 sedan, V60 wagon and the XC60 SUV – but only on the range-topping T8 plug-in hybrids.

For an undisclosed sum, the Polestar Engineered upgrades introduce a power bump for the turbo- and supercharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, raising outputs from the current car's 294kW/640Nm to 305kW/670Nm.

Volvo hasn't revealed how much that improves on-road performance, but says the power boost -- which involves a software upgrade -- actually improves fuel consumption and refines the automatic transmission's gearchanges.

To improve handling, Polestar will offer buyers of the mid-size sedan, wagon and SUV the choice of new springs and adjustable Ohlins dampers.

Polestar's performance upgrades also introduce a strut tower brace for additional rigidity.

Reigning in the extra performance are new six-piston Brembo brake callipers that clamp down on slotted discs with more aggressive pads.

Advertising the fact you've spent several thousand dollars more on Polestar enhancements, each upgraded Volvo carries bright-yellow badging, brake callipers and seat belts.

Yellow, if you haven't guessed, is the Polestar Engineered sub-brand's new hero colour, replacing the old light blue.

Polestar Engineered upgrades will be offered in some markets as a trim level, rather than dealer-fit parts, but it's not yet known how or indeed if they will be available Down Under, where the V60 hits showrooms around October.

More will be revealed next week when Volvo officially reveals the new S60 sedan, which goes on sale here next year.