Monday 16th July 2012

Volvo plans hot V40 Polestar

Spirit of the old T5s revived with Polestar-tuned V40 hot hatch in the works

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Polestar V40 will look like this, only hotter

Volvo is aiming to regain some performance car credentials with both hot and hotter versions of the V40 hatchback.

V40 will take on fast hatch establishment

The Swedish brand, once loved by fast-barge fans for its T5 & R versions of the 850 and V70, will launch a 254hp T5 version of the new V40 hatchback at the end of this year. And despite The T5 will share much of its underpinnings with the front-drive Focus ST.

Volvo will then offer an all-wheel-drive version of the V40 T5 alongside the front-drive model. The AWD model will then form the basis of a hotter V40 from Volvo's tuning division Polestar.

Volvo's UK managing director Nick Connor confirmed the V40 Polestar would have 'at least' 10 per cent more power than the T5 which would take it to around 280hp. And depending on how cheeky the Polestar crew are feeling, this could easily end up at 300hp. At this point the hotter V40 would go up against rivals such as the recently released BMW M135ithat PH drove earlier this month and the Audi S3.

Pricing and exact arrival date have yet to be finalised, but don't expect much change from £30,000 when the car becomes available in 2013.

508hp S60 heading for limited run

Official details of the hotter Volvos are expected to be revealed at the Paris motor show in September, according to Connor.

However, at £30,000, the V40 Polestar would be significantly less expensive than the S60 Polestar, which Connor confirmed would go into limited production and not just be confined to the one-off concept that PH drove back in June.

Connor added the handbuilt 508hp S60 Polestar would be available for around £100,000 and he expected 'one or two' customers for the car in the UK.

[TNH]

C30 not V40 please Volvo.

[blakeyc]

So it's a modern take on the old 850/V70 T5? Better find some uprated brakes and buy shares in Michelin then

[IforB]

Both C30 and V40 please.

A C30 is far too small to be a useable car for me, but a V40 is about right, so I'd definitely be interested in one if it's any good. It should be out about the time I need to change my current Scirocco too, which would be useful!

[rajkohli81]

hmm, I wonder if it will be a torque-steering, tarmac scrabbling, nose heavy mess without the endearing load lugging talents of it's forebearers.

Destined to be massively eclipsed by M135i.

[loudlashadjuster]

Let's play a game of "how many press releases can we squeeze out of what amounts to nothing much more than aspiration".

This Polestar talk is all a bit "OMG amazing rendered supercar launch blurb".

1) Build car.
2) Sell car.

Not that difficult is it, Volvo?

[Dion20vt]

Cant really compare it to the M135 really. One is a 2 door coupe and the other a 5 door hatch / estate...

Focus ST possibly the closest contender??

[rajkohli81]

Dion20vt said:

Cant really compare it to the M135 really. One is a 2 door coupe and the other a 5 door hatch / estate...

Focus ST possibly the closest contender??

The M135i is a 3 door hatch and is available as a 5 door hatch

[Munich]

How many units do you think Volvo is aiming to sell with the S60 Polestar? At ca. 100K I can't imagine there would be too any customers, but do you think there are enough crazy people out there to pay that sort of money to make a postive business case?

[garypotter]

rajkohli81 said:

hmm, I wonder if it will be a torque-steering, tarmac scrabbling, nose heavy mess without the endearing load lugging talents of it's forebearers.

Destined to be massively eclipsed by M135i.

4th quote in and the BMW wins by a mile.....

[thewheelman]

rajkohli81 said:

hmm, I wonder if it will be a torque-steering, tarmac scrabbling, nose heavy mess without the endearing load lugging talents of it's forebearers.

You'd have thought it being AWD that would sort a lot of that out.

Could you also tell me which "endearing load lugging talents of its forebearers" you're referring too? Surely you can't be comparing this 5 door hatch to an estate & expecting similar "load lugging talents"

Edited by thewheelman on Monday 16th July 12:18

[sideways sid]

Munich said:

How many units do you think Volvo is aiming to sell with the S60 Polestar? At ca. 100K I can't imagine there would be too any customers, but do you think there are enough crazy people out there to pay that sort of money to make a postive business case?

Can't imagine anyone passing on Jag XFR and spending £30-40k more on the Volvo.

[HowardB]

I drove the new V40 round Goodwood race track, it is great fun as long as you are prepared to surrender all your responsibility to the in built computers and sensors. It stops, it slows, it parks and trys to stay inside white lines. All of which are very commendable technologically but will encourage the driver to be even less engaged in the act of driving.

I already know of a driver that boasted of 17miles on the M1 with hands and feet off, lane following and adaptive cruise,... maybe next time he'll take a sleep, or watch a film,.. en route!!

Put in performance brakes, engine and transmission, and take out the electronics, make the driver responsible again. Please.

[Checkmate]

Article said:

And despite The T5 will share much of its underpinnings with the front-drive Focus ST.

What is this I don't even

[Ali_T]

HAve to say, I really like that car, and I never thought I'd say that about a Volvo. Certainly miles better than the over-styled 1 series and A class and ultra dull A3.

[si_xsi]

so will this be a 5 or 4 pot? Hopefully the former but due to Eu emission legislation probably not..

[Kong]

Munich said:

How many units do you think Volvo is aiming to sell with the S60 Polestar? At ca. 100K I can't imagine there would be too any customers, but do you think there are enough crazy people out there to pay that sort of money to make a postive business case?

article said:

Connor added the handbuilt 508hp S60 Polestar would be available for around £100,000 and he expected 'one or two' customers for the car in the UK.

It says in the article. It's a halo model to market the hot Volvo/Polestar brands rather than to make profit - even at that price.

[Kong]

loudlashadjuster said:

Let's play a game of "how many press releases can we squeeze out of what amounts to nothing much more than aspiration".

This Polestar talk is all a bit "OMG amazing rendered supercar launch blurb".

1) Build car.
2) Sell car.

Not that difficult is it, Volvo?

I agree 100%

This is getting silly now, Polestar stop with the constant press releases/concepts and get busy tuning volvos!

[RichB]

HowardB said:

...It <clip> trys to stay inside white lines.

I already know of a driver that boasted of 17miles on the M1 with hands and feet off, lane following and adaptive cruise,... maybe next time he'll take a sleep, or watch a film,.. en route!!

Really? My latest V70 has lane departure warning but the computer certainly doesn't take control of the steering and guide you back between the lines.

[HowardB]

RichB said:

Really? My latest V70 has lane departure warning but the computer certainly doesn't take control of the steering and guide you back between the lines.

"He" drives a new Honda Accord,.. I have no idea how true it is, but the new V40 does try to nudge you back into lane, I tried it,....

Either way, it is the constant pressure on the motorist to get there sooner, and do more things on the way that will lead them to pay less attention to the road.

Drive safe,..

[Aeroresh]

10% more?....meh

If they want to play with the likes of BMW and Audi they are going to have to do better than that. In fact they are going to need to trump them on power as I forsee dynamically they wont be quite as good (or am I just being over cynical?)