Currently reading: Polestar boss: high-performance Volvo models won't dilute brand image
Thomas Ingenlath has said that a future range of tuned Volvos will serve a different purpose to Polestar cars

Polestar boss Thomas Ingenlath says that the brand’s future range of performance-tuned Volvo cars, starting with the new S60, won’t dilute Polestar's identity.

Established as a racing team, Volvo bought Polestar to be an in-house tuner of hot variants, but last year spun it off as a separate brand to focus on electric cars. Polestar will start with the hybrid 1 (pictured below), with subsequent vehicles all full EVs.

However, Polestar will continue to produce Polestar Engineered versions of select Volvo models, although these will now exclusively feature electrified powertrains. 

Polestar 1240 2 0

The S60 Polestar Engineered uses the same T8 hybrid engine as that featured elsewhere in the range, tuned to give 409bhp and 494lb ft of torque. The biggest change is the car’s suspension tuning, in particular the use of Ohlins dampers, designed to offer a more engaging drive.

Asked at the launch of the S60 if the Polestar Engineered line could dilute the identity of the Polestar stand-alone brand, Ingenlath admitted: “The danger is there.”

However, he added: “From what we do content wise, it’s not something that contradicts. Moving from the previous S60 Polestar Engineered to the new S60 Polestar Engineered matches what we do with the Polestar brand: it’s a commitment to electrification and a premium performance attribute.

“In the future, the core business and our main business is the Polestar brand, and what we produce to give to the customers with Polestar cars is a base on what we’ll give to Volvo as a spice with Polestar Engineered.”

Read more 

2018 Volvo S60 to face 3 Series with keener handling and plug-in variants

Volvo XC40 to be firm's first fully electric vehicle

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review
Volvo S60
The Volvo S60 is offered with an impressive new D4 diesel engine

An all-new diesel engine aims to give the S60 saloon class-leading stats

Back to top

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

Join the debate

Comments
3
Add a comment…
xxxx 22 June 2018

Dilute the image

The 1 might not but pointless article about Volvo's which are miles away from production are.

koyaanisqatsi 21 June 2018

high-performance Volvo models won't dilute brand image

 

phew that's a relieve, I was losing sleep over that ....  thought someone might mistake me for someone with character when I borrow my grandad's car.

  

Biter 22 June 2018

koyaanisqatsi wrote:

koyaanisqatsi wrote:

 

phew that's a relieve, I was losing sleep over that ....  thought someone might mistake me for someone with character when I borrow my grandad's car.

  

 

No your safe. Everyone will still think your bad grampa, with anger issues about the small engine your dads favourite brand came with.