Polestar will modify Volvo’s T8 Twin Engine cars

Volvo has enlisted the help of its electric performance car division Polestar to give its 60 series hybrid T8 cars a bit of a boost. They’re badged Polestar Engineered, and the S60 is the first to benefit from this treatment.

It’s not a case of turning the dial up to ten and running for the hills, mind. The T8 powertrain – which matches a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor – gets an ECU tweak that boosts outright power from 395bhp to 409bhp, along with 494lb ft of torque (up from 470lb ft). Polestar has also improved the MPG and gearbox calibration, too.

There are fancier shocks (from Ohlins), a strut brace shared with the Polestar 1, new brake discs, Brembo calipers with brake pads that have better heat tolerance, and lightweight wheels to show it all off. These Polestar Engineered cars all come with badges, black chrome exhaust pipes and golden seatbelts to better distinguish them from lesser-tuned Volvos.

Next year, 'PE' V60 and XC60 versions will arrive, available in limited numbers.

“The new S60 T8 Polestar Engineered is an electrified car that does what you want it to,” explains Volvo’s senior VP of R&D Henrik Green. “All components have been fine-tuned to work together, delivering a responsive and exciting drivers’ car.”

There aren’t any pics of the full thing, but the brand new S60 will be launched very soon, so watch this space. A hybrid small sports saloon? Yeah, count us in.