Volvo looks to poleaxe the competition

Dubai: Keep your eyes open for the Volvo S60 Polestar concept — chances are you could yet catch a blur of the distinctive blue sheen of the high-performance vehicle. One of the concept models —only four have been built — will be put through its strides in the UAE next month as Volvo Car Corporation takes a decision on offering a Swedish contender in a category where the German Big 3 have had it all to themselves for some time now.

Featuring a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, the Polestar can churn up 508-hp and do a flat zero to 100 kph in sub-4 seconds. At the top end of the speed spectrum, the model is limited to 250 kph. “It is our view that the Polestar would have a role to play in the UAE’s automotive market,” said Emre Karaer, regional sales and marketing director at the carmaker. “It is obviously the next big step for Volvo here.”

With the run around on local roads in May, Volvo expects to gauge potential buyer attitude towards the model and whether that would be enough to build a distinctive niche for itself. This is a category where BMW has its M version, Audi got its Quattro and Mercedes has the AMG.

“If we get the right signals the UAE will be third market to receive commercial production of the S60 Polestar, currently finalised for Japan and Australia,” said Karaer. The first shipment reaches Australia in June.

A specialist car turning firm in Sweden, Polestar has had a longstanding association with Volvo. But this is the first time that the two have combined to engage in full-blown commercial production. The Polestar S60s will be built alongside the mainstream versions at the Volvo plant but the final set of high tuning will be done at Polestar, which will also develop and supply the parts.

Volvo has been steadily building up the numbers in this region and saw off last year with volumes of 2,411 units. The XC crossover range accounts for 43 per cent of the volumes.

“If the Polestar makes it here, the dimensions of what Volvo can do in these markets change dramatically,” said Karaer.