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Feann Torr5 Aug 2019
NEWS

Hi-po Volvo XC60 Polestar for under $100K

Volvo's muscled-up go-fast SUV makes 311kW to out-power Audi SQ5, BMW X3 M40i

Pricing for the upcoming Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar has been confirmed in Australia, where it will cost $99,990 plus on-road costs.

Arriving in Australia late this month, the new mid-size luxury/performance SUV is aimed squarely at the likes of the Audi SQ5 ($99,142), BMW X3 M40i ($99,900) and Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 ($103,430).

Interestingly, the Swedish slugger has bragging rights in the $100K bracket, with more muscle than any of its European rivals. There’s a total of 311kW of power and 670Nm of torque — the sort of gristle that will raise eyebrows in Germany.

On top of its significant power output, the Volvo XC60 Polestar also offers a more advanced powertrain. It’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (246kW/430Nm) is backed up by an electric motor (65kW/240Nm) powered by a 10.4kWh lithium-ion battery.

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The plug-in hybrid set-up means owners can drive up to around 45km on pure electricity, reducing overall fuel consumption. Volvo reckons average fuel consumption of around 2.1L/100km is possible.

However, that depends very much on how the vehicle is driven.

At the same the all-wheel drive machine, fitted as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission, can accelerate to 100km/h in 5.2 seconds.

In pure performance terms, the Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar (311kW/670Nm) generates more power than the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 (270kW/520Nm), Audi SQ5 (260kW/500Nm) and BMW X3 M40i (265kW/500Nm), all of which are powered by bigger, thirstier, non-hybrid 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol engines.

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Polestar is Volvo's hot shop, much like AMG is to Mercedes-Benz and M is to BMW. As well as tweaking the powertrain the Swedish performance house also upgrades the chassis, adds bigger 21-inch alloy wheels with grippier tyres and a few other cosmetic changes including a redesigned grille and a dark motif via gloss black accents.

The cabin features a handful of upgrades, such as a sports steering wheel, coloured seat belts and technical metal mesh interior highlights. These match up with Nappa leather seat trim and two large digital screens – a portrait-oriented infotainment touch-screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.

When deliveries of the Volvo XC60 T80 Polestar begin in late August 2019, it will replace T80 R-Design models - but not D5 diesel and T6 turbo-petrol R-Design models.

Volvo XC60 sales are up almost 26 per cent in 2019, with 1664 units delivered, slotting it into fourth spot in its class behind the big three from Germany.

The top-selling mid-size luxury SUV in Oz at present is the Mercedes-Benz GLC with 3010 sales, followed by the BMW X3 with 2530 sales and the Audi Q5 with 1915 sales.

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How much does the 2019 Volvo XC90 cost?
T5 Momentum (a) — $64,990
T5 Inscription (a) — $71,990
D5 R-Design (a) — $76,990
T6 R-Design (a) — $78,990
D4 Momentum (a) — $62,990
D4 Inscription (a) — $69,990
T8 PHEV Polestar (a) — $99,990
* All prices exclude on-road costs

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