Wednesday 21st June 2017

Polestar launched as Volvo performance sub-brand

"A new separately-branded electrified global high performance car company" is on the way

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PH likes Polestar. We liked the silly C30 concept, we liked the even sillier S60 concept and we liked the rather more subdued V60. Today comes the biggest news since Volvo's total acquisition of Polestar two years ago: Polestar is becoming a separate performance car company.

Where will we see this logo first?

While still under Volvo's control, the aim of the newly revitalised Polestar will be "creating world beating electrified high performance cars"; don't expect any more 500hp, manual, we'll-only-make-six specials, basically. Heading up the operation will be Thomas Ingenlath, who will take up the CEO position having been Volvo Design Senior Vice President, and Jonathan Goodman, leaving the Volvo Senior Vice President Corporate Communication role to be COO of Polestar.

The new Polestar will continue with the range of optimisation packages for Volvos under the 'Polestar Engineered' banner, but its dedicated performance models will not carry any Volvo badges at all. The influence of Volvo, says Polestar, will provide synergies to "allow it to design, develop and build world beating electrified high performance cars."

What will those cars be? We don't know yet, with more details to be released in the autumn. A V40 could be interesting, what with the current proliferation of mega hot hatches and the opportunity to introduce hybrid technology to the sector. There may be a desire to reclaim the four-door Nurburgring record too, with some kind of overhauled S60. Both those cars are hardly fresh though, so there could be a desire to create a new Polestar product off something newer. And buyers do love a fast SUV. If an XC60 or XC90 Polestar comes first then you know where you read it...

 

[aaron_2000]

Praying for a V90 Polestar

[Ares]

Jeez, if they launch with a hot SUV, PH might just explode!

[99dndd]

Article said:

"A new separately-branded electrified global high performance car company"

It's going to be warm-ish hybrids isn't it?

Kind of like the VW Golf GTE.

[Cold]

Geely-Volvo-Polestar-Lotus.

[Nickp82]

Volvo will be wanting to move away from the Ford era products ASAP so I doubt there would be V40 or S60 based Polestar models, I believe a coupe based on the S90 is going to be the first offfering?

[anonymous-user]

They need to make some cars with mental engines and really differentiate themselves from Volvo.

[ZX10R NIN]

They won't do anything to amazing unfortunately now they're owned by Volvo I mean they canned their V8 Supercars now that would have been a great Polestar car using their T6 engine, no chance of anything like that now it'll be hybrid inline Turbo 4's all the way.

[Q Car]

I quite fancy the idea of a curvy, sporty, leccy hybrid that's half way competent in the twisties with a beautiful scandi, minimalist interior if they did a S90 based coupe....

[anonymous-user]

It doesn't bode well if they're sticking on a rearranged Citroen badge...

[Richard-390a0]

riviera said:

It doesn't bode well if they're sticking on a rearranged Citroen badge...

[Sixpackpert]

Bearing in mind the Hybrid V90 T8 does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds as standard can a Polestar version be much quicker? If they do a V90 model.

[dazwalsh]

Will they have a new grille?, the current asymmetrical volvo one tickles my ocd.

[tankplanker]

I am pretty sure the T8 is now available in the new XC60 platform, which should mean it turns up in the new S60/V60 when they become available.

I think there is also a T5 hybrid platform based around the new 1.5l twin charged engine that should be for the new XC/V/S40 models?

Is this why Volvo's parent company bought Lotus? The idea of Lotus tuning Polestar's handling is very appealing.

[hyphen]

Logical move, Volvo is still an older persons brand. This will sell to the younger market.

Getting a new brand off the ground is tough though.

[Fetchez la vache]

99dndd said:

Article said:

"A new separately-branded electrified global high performance car company"

It's going to be warm-ish hybrids isn't it?

Kind of like the VW Golf GTE.

That's the way I read it too. I think anyone after a loud v8 will be very disappointed...

[FN2TypeR]

I like Volvo and their current models look great IMO, including the forthcoming XC60 (looks fab) - alas, their use of 1.5 and 2.0 I4's means that nothing truly mental will come of this which is a bit of a kicker, but I'll be watching with keen interest none the less!

[simonrockman]

This might be because Volvo has said it won't build anything bigger than a 2.0 4cyl. Saying Polestar is "different" skirts the pledge.

[stuartrav]

Polestar already do an engine remap for the XC90 T8, i considered it but the benefits are very small, especially considering the price.

[RogerExplosion]

I was really coming around to Volvos until they completely screwed over Garry Rogers Motorsport in Aus. I know it's a small thing and my potential purchase of a second hand car down the track is not going to bother them but I feel they made a large mistake.

[ZX10R NIN]

+1 to the above especially as Volvo now want Polestar to be considered a performance brand these cars would have been seen as halo products.

Also I can't see Volvo letting Polestar build a bespoke engine over 2.0 considering their behaviour with the above.