Volvo’s Polestar brand India bound early 2017

Volvo is all set to join the league of luxury carmakers having performance divisions in India with the launch of the high-performance Polestar brand. Leading the charge will be the S60 Polestar sedan that is set to launch early next year. We had exclusively reported last year about Volvo’s plans to introduce the Polestar brand in India.

“We are looking to launch the S60 Polestar in the beginning of next year…It will be a good performance alternative and also a petrol alternative for the market,” Tom Von Bonsdorff, managing director of Volvo Auto India told Autocar India.

The S60 Polestar coming to the Indian shores could be the updated variant with a four-cylinder 1,969cc 2.0-litre engine putting out 367hp and 470Nm. Earlier, the Polestar used a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six making a lower 345hp but a higher 500Nm.

Apart from the bump in power, the performance sedan comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox in place of the old car's six-speed. It also gets a stiffer suspension, a larger air intake, a bigger turbo and a higher-capacity fuel pump.

The sedan is equipped with a Polestar-enhanced four-wheel-drive system. Volvo claims a run to 100kph from standstill can be attained in 4.7sec and top speed is electronically limited at 250kph.

Interestingly, in a bid to improve handling, Volvo has cut 15kg from the overall weight and has improved the weight distribution by reducing the load over the front axle.

The Swedish carmaker, which recently launched the S90 sedan in India, is looking to ramp up its presence in the country. “Our focus now is on expanding network and building our reputation,” Bonsdorff said. The carmaker presently has around 15 dealerships across the country and will soon expand to Lucknow, Pune and Jaipur.