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Press Release from Volvo Sweden (June 5, 2009)
In conjunction with the STCC race, Göteborg City Race this weekend, Volvo Cars Sweden AB and Polestar Racing AB introduce a long-awaited opportunity for Volvo enthusiasts to improve their car’s performance.
Thanks to close collaboration between Volvo’s Racing Team, Polestar and Volvo Car Corporation’s power train department, the Volvo owners who want a sharper car will be able to nhance their car with upgraded performance. The software which will soon be made available will be sold via Volvo’s dealer network in Sweden, it will comply with Swedish emissions regulations and has been specially configured for the technology in each Volvo model. It is the first time that Volvo offers this type of performance increasing software.
“We have had enquiries from time to time about whether Volvo, like its competitors, could offer technology for improved car performance. We will now offer it. And we will do it, both knowing that car owners can be reassured that it will work and not damage environmental features, cause mechanical damage or knock out the car’s complex electronic systems”, says Thomas Andersson, Managing Director of Volvo Cars Sweden.
22 to 58 hp more power.
Upgrades for the engine control system have been developed, which offer a power increase of between 22 and 58 horsepower, depending on model and variant, without affecting the car’s fuel consumption in normal driving. After optimisation, the car will comply with the strict emissions regulations stipulated by Swedish legislation.
Thanks to Volvo’s certification, Polestar Performance is an entirely legal way to improve your car’s performance. It will be possible for the car to be approved in a registration inspection after power optimisation. All warranties from Volvo will also apply, irrespective of whether Polestar Performance power optimisation has been installed from the start, when the car was new, or if it is done on a used Volvo, which means that the car’s resale value is not affected.
Polestar Racing has developed the Volvo Green Racing theme, and was the first team in Sweden to compete with the environmentally-friendly bio ethanol fuelled Volvo C30. Motor sport has helped the development of standard cars, which is also the case now.
“During the work in developing our racing engines, we have developed the engine control system to achieve maximum power, and we realised early on that we could offer this to “ordinary” Volvo owners, and Volvo quickly showed an interest”, says Christian Dahl, managing director of Polestar Racing AB.
Polestar Performance does not extract maximum “racing power” or torque from the engine, it is at a level where the power increase is clearly noticeable, but fuel consumption and emission levels remain at the same level as were reported for the standard engine in normal driving. All upgrades are within reasonable levels, to offer problem-free Volvo ownership.
Polestar Performance gives a power increase that depends on the car model that is being upgraded. For example, the top-level version is a Volvo V70 2.5 Flexifuel, where the power increases from 200 to 258 horsepower. Torque is raised from 300 Newton metres to 360. A clearly noticeable increase.
None of Polestar’s power optimisation kits increase the car’s top speed, since Volvo’s original speed limiter retains its original value for each engine, which means that standard brakes and tyres can be used.
Polestar Performance will initially be made available for selected flexi-fuel and diesel-powered Volvo V70, XC70 and S80, but further models will follow.
Prices for the upgrade vary from SEK 5,900 to SEK 8,900 including VAT.
Green optimisation
At the same time as power-raising technology is in demand, there is also a demand for technology that helps the car owner to optimise fuel consumption. Work on this is in progress at Volvo Car Corporation’s power train department.
More details about Polestar Performance are available from www.polestar.se
