The 2012 Volvo C30. Image: Volvo
Of all the reasons to buy a Volvo. “because I can have it tuned” probably doesn’t make the top ten very often. Nonetheless, Volvo does indeed have a corporate tuning partner, Polestar, which has developed a line of performance software for select 2008 and later Volvo models. If you own a C30, C70, S40 or (soon) a V50 with Volvo’s T5 engine, Polestar’s tune will net you an additional 23 horsepower and 29 lb.-ft. of torque.
Here’s the best part: your Volvo dealer will reflash the ECU for you, and the upgrade doesn’t impact your existing warranty coverage. Polestar claims that it won’t negatively affect fuel economy, either, but we suppose that depends on how much you enjoy your new tune. The price is a reasonable $1,295 installed, which is on par with tuning upgrades from other aftermarket vendors.
Polestar is the company behind Volvo’s racing efforts, and it’s worked its magic on the new S60 T6 R-Design, which gets a bump from 300 to 325 horsepower. Will the partnership between Volvo and Polestar result in more cars like the highly entertaining S60 T6 R-Design? We certainly hope so.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
