2016 Volvo V60 Polestar revealed

Volvo has revealed the new performance version of the updated estate, the V60 Polestar, which will be powered by a new downsized four-cylinder twin-charged engine tweaked by the Polestar racing division.

Replacing the turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six in its predecessor, this new Drive-E engine is a better fit with Volvo's current engine line-up, which comprises only four-cylinder units. Despite losing a litre of capacity and two cylinders, the Polestar-tweaked engine boasts 367hp – 17.2hp more than the outgoing V60 Polestar.

Aiming to take the fight to Audi's new S4 Avant, the Polestar hits 100kph in 4.8 seconds – a tenth quicker than the Audi – and boasts a top speed of 250kph.

Known elsewhere in the Volvo range, including in the S90 and XC90, as the T6 engine, this twin-charged unit has been further tweaked by Polestar to include a bigger turbo, new conrods, new camshafts, a larger air intake and a higher-capacity fuel pump. It's the same basic engine found in the all-new FIA World Touring Car Championship race car, the Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 of Polestar Cyan Racing.

The engine comes paired to a Polestar-enhanced four-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Volvo has cut 20kg from the overall weight and has improved the weight distribution by reducing the load over the front axle by 24kg. Bigger brakes and a tweaked power steering system round off the performance and handling upgrades.

As with the previous V60 Polestar, this updated model will be sold in limited numbers – though not as limited. Only 750 of the previous model were produced worldwide, but this time 1,250 to 1,500 will be built.

While this model is unlikely to be brought to India, its sedan sibling, the S60 Polestar is scheduled to arrive on our shores sometime this year. The S60 Polestar is part of a host of new launches from the Swedish automaker this year with models such as the facelifted V40 siblings and more variants of the XC90 SUV expected to launch by year-end.

Rachel Burgess (Autocar UK)