Volvo is extracting some really useful performance out of its small engines, as evidenced by the new XC90 T8 Polestar optimisation kit.
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Originally, the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four produced 320 PS and 400 Nm of torque while the electric motor provided 87 PS and 240 Nm of extra power.
Thanks to Polestar Performance Optimization, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine is turned up to 421 horsepower and 501 lb-ft of torque, making it capable of running to 62 miles per hour from a standstill in 5.5 seconds. Throttle response and transmission gear hold have also been modified as well for increased performance.
The modified shift strategy automatically holds the selected gear during high-g cornering maneuvers, preventing undesirable mid-corner gearshifts that could otherwise unsettle the vehicle’s balance. “This gives customers who want a new level of driving pleasure with their XC90 an easily accessible and attractive performance increase”, said Niels Möller, CEO of Polestar. In that same test, we clocked the T8 running from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds, or 0.7 quicker than the standard model. Polestar say that this has resulted in a lower 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 5.5 seconds, a tenth of a second quicker than before. Just recently, we covered about the Polestar Performance Package that is made for the XC90 T6 trim.
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Volvo Polestar claims to have also improved the whole drivetrain package to enhance the vehicle’s sporting character, including optimising the throttle response and sharpening the transmission with more precise shift action and holding gears for longer when driving on twisty roads, prevented unwanted mid-corner upshifts that unbalance the auto and promoting faster acceleration out of the bends.
