Volvo Adds Polestar Punch to 2020 V60, XC60

The Volvo V60 wagon and XC60 SUV join Volvo’s performance-oriented Polestar Engineered lineup for the 2020 model year, complete with performance and style upgrades inside and out. The models join the 2019 S60 T8 Polestar Engineered in using Volvo’s T8 “Twin-Engine Plug-in Hybrid” powerplant — optimized for performance instead of efficiency.

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Total system output for the T8 is 415 horsepower and 494 pounds-feet of torque. While not Mercedes-AMG E63 wagon levels of power, that’s still a lot for one of the few remaining wagons on the market. Not too shabby for a compact SUV, either.

Other performance enhancements include an Ohlins-tuned suspension and additional body stiffening. Six-piston brake calipers painted Polestar’s signature gold are visible through lightweight forged-alloy wheels designed to allow extra air to cool the brake discs.

The wheel design is unique to the Polestar Engineered models, but the exterior cosmetic enhancements don’t stop there. Polestar Engineered examples also include wheel arch extensions, black-chrome exhaust tips and a glossy black grille. Special Polestar Engineered badges are also visible at the front and rear of both models.

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Inside, the gold accents continue with Polestar gold seat belts. The interior is charcoal-colored with “metal mesh-aluminum panels” providing an alternative to the more traditional carbon fiber found in the competition. The upholstery uses a combination of Nappa leather and “open-grid textiles” along with a leather sport steering wheel and leather-covered gear selector.

The 2020 V60 and XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered models go on sale in the summer of 2019, according to Volvo. Pricing information is not yet available.

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