Polestar boosts Volvo power with factory software upgrade

Volvo and its performance arm Polestar have developed tuning software for C30, C70 and S40 cars fitted with the T5 turbocharged engine. It increases power by 23 hp and torque by 29 lb-ft by revising valve and spark timing. The software is compatible with 2008-model-year and newer cars and goes on sale on Nov. 14 at an MSRP of $1,295.

“Our performance-oriented customers have told us they wanted a tuning option for their vehicles,” said Chris Dauerer, Volvo Cars NA's vice president of customer service. “With Polestar, we are able to unlock the power potential of our engines, which leads to impressive acceleration and a more memorable driving experience.”

The kicker is that the upgrade doesn't result in more fuel consumption, according to Volvo. It only increases power output when it's needed. The package doesn't void the factory warranty either, which is something that aftermarket tuning chips can't say.

The upgrade can be done at the dealership and should only take 10 minutes to 15 minutes, according to Volvo. So getting in and out just depends on the service workload that day.

Polestar was founded in 1996 with Volvo to increase the company's footprint in motorsports. Since then, the company has competed with the 850, the S40, the S60 and now the C30 models.

Next up from Volvo and Polestar will be a performance package for the all-wheel-drive V50 wagon with the manual transmission.

By Jake Lingeman