Volvo S60 Polestar price cut by $10K

Another $10,000 has been chopped from the Volvo S60 Polestar as upgraded MY17 versions hit showrooms this month with a new 270kW twincharged four-cylinder engine.

Now priced from $89,990 for the S60 Polestar or $92,990 for its V60 Polestar near-twin (both plus on-road costs), the medium performance models now claim a two-tenths-faster 4.7-second 0-100km/h.

Finally, Volvo is undercutting established players on price and performance, including the luxe-oriented BMW 340i ($89,900 with 240kW/450Nm and 5.1sec 0-100km/h) and newly released Mercedes-AMG C43 ($101,900 with 270kW/520Nm and 4.7sec 0-100km/h).

The new 2.0-litre turbocharged and supercharged four elbows out the old 3.0-litre turbo six and makes 13kW more than before, with 270kW at 6000rpm. It’s also down 30Nm, with 470Nm between 3100rpm and 5100rpm, but the new engine is 24kg lighter than old and is allied to a new eight-speed automatic – an additional two ratios – with launch control.

Performance kit includes 20-inch Polestar alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, perforated leather interior with Alcantara seat and steering wheel inserts, carbonfibre-look trim, manually adjustable Ohlins dampers, a quad-pipe sports exhaust, plus a new Sport+ drive mode to direct more torque to the rear boots and ease the stability control setting.

For those looking to the S60 and V60 to double as a luxury conveyance, the Polestar grades also get dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable front seats with front/rear heating, sunroof and 7.0-inch screen with sat-nav, Internet radio and Harman Kardon audio system.

Safety kit extends to adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitor, cross-traffic alert and front/rear parking sensors with reverse-view camera.

It all amounts to what should be a more convincing Volvo S60 Polestar and V60 Polestar. With the AMG C43 currently in the MOTOR garage and the new Audi S4 arriving next year, the inevitable comparison test awaits.