Swedish electric performance brand Polestar is now officially confirmed to join the Australian new-car market in 2022
11. listopadu 2021, 09:59
I t’s widely known that Polestar is closely linked with Volvo and also owned by China’s Geely Automotive, but there’s much more to the story behind the rise of Polestar.
Here we bring you 10 fascinating facts about the new brand that has the likes of Tesla squarely in its sights.
1 — Motorsport origins
The Polestar name was first introduced in 2005 – adopted by Swedish motorsport specialists Cyan Racing which, since 1996, had been running Volvo’s factory team in the Swedish Touring Car Championship. It was chosen as a tribute to “the origin of the company in the frozen north of Sweden and its strive towards perfection”.
The outfit last ran a Volvo racing car in 2017, when it won both the World Touring Car Championship driver’s and constructors’ titles with the S60 TC1. Cyan Racing, which has since dropped the Polestar name, now represents the Chinese Lync & Co brand – from Volvo parent company Geely – in the World Touring Car Cup (the successor to the WTCC).
2 — A circa-300km/h C30 hatchback was its first road-going car
Polestar was announced as Volvo’s official performance partner in 2009. And after Polestar took a racing-car version of Volvo’s C30 coupe-hatch to the 2009 Swedish Touring Car title, its engineers created a road-going C30 ‘concept prototype’ capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds and reaching in excess of 290km/h.
The C30 prototype was propelled by Volvo’s renowned 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine, which sent 336kW and 510Nm to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox and Quaife limited-slip differentials. An aero bodykit was honed in Volvo’s wind tunnel.
3 — Polestar helped create Volvo’s Australian V8 Supercar
When Volvo made the shock move to enter the 2014 Australian V8 Supercar Championship, Polestar partnered with Garry Rogers Motorsport to co-develop the Volvo S60 V8SC.
Polestar developed the S60 Supercar’s 5.0-litre V8 from the 4.4-litre Volvo/Yamaha engine that had appeared in the likes of the XC90 SUV and S80 sedan between 2006 and 2011.
Producing 485kW and combining with GRM’s V8 Supercars nous, Volvo scored a surprising second place in Adelaide’s season opener – with a certain up and coming Kiwi young-gun behind the wheel called Scott McLaughlin. The McLaughlin/Volvo combination came third in the 2016 V8 Supercars championship – Volvo’s last season after the Swedish brand decided to phase out motorsport activities.
4 — S60 Polestar Performance sedan was exclusive to Australia
Australia had already enjoyed an exclusive taste of the Polestar brand before Volvo’s V8 Supercars foray. In 2013, the Polestar-developed S60 Polestar mid-sized performance sedan became a localised, 50-units-only, toe-in-the-water exercise as Volvo contemplated a return to sporty production cars.
With the supercharged six-cylinder, all-wheel-drive S60 considered a success, the sedan was joined by a wagon twin – the V60 Polestar – as Polestar’s first global Volvo production models.
The models were updated in 2016, including a more powerful turbocharged/supercharged four-cylinder engine.
5 — The Polestar brand was intended for Fast Volvos
When Volvo Cars acquired Polestar Performance AB in 2015, the intention was to take on high-performance models from the likes of BMW’s M division and Mercedes-AMG.
In 2017, however, the target essentially became Tesla, as Volvo announced Polestar would be a standalone brand focused purely on electric performance vehicles. Polestar would use Volvo platforms and other components, though no Volvo badging would appear on the cars.
6 — Polestar optimisation
Polestar is also responsible for some tuning software designed to improve the driving performance of regular Volvos. Improved gearshift speed and precision, recalibrated on- and off-throttle response, plus a slightly chunkier mid-range for the engine all aimed to deliver better drivability and driver engagement.
The update was available as an option before being introduced as standard on certain models. Polestar optimisation would go on to bring greater rear-wheel bias for all-wheel-drive Volvos when the dynamic mode was engaged or ESC switched off.
7 — Polestar engineered models
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Buyers looking for a vehicle with the most obvious Polestar and Volvo links should look up the XC60 and XC90 Polestar Engineered models.
These flagship plug-in-hybrid SUVs feature a package of Polestar performance upgrades that include recalibrated engine software, Öhlins dampers, Akebono brakes, strut bar and lighter, forged-alloy wheels. They also receive a handful of exterior cosmetic additions, including a Polestar badge on the grille.
8 — Customers will buy Polestars online only
Forget dealerships and salespeople. Polestar is following the likes of Tesla and Genesis with a different approach to the traditional retail concept.
In Europe, various cities now feature a Polestar Space – factory-owned city-centre locations where shoppers can browse the cars, specifications and in some instances even individual components. Polestar experts are on hand to assist with any enquiries, though there’s a promise not to place any pressure on a purchasing decision.
Customers can order a car at a Polestar Space, on their desktop/tablet or via a smartphone app. In Australia, pop-up Polestar stores are planned with orders also made online.
9 — Polestar’s boss was Volvo’s VP of design
Thomas Ingenlath was behind Volvo’s design renaissance that started with the second-generation XC90 SUV, before being appointed chief executive officer of the fledgling Polestar brand.
Ingenlath is no longer on Volvo’s executive team but retains responsibility for overall group design, working with Volvo’s current head of design, Robin Page.
10 — Polestar 1 and 2 were originally Volvo concept cars
The electric performance brand’s very first vehicle is essentially a production version of Volvo’s stunning 2013 Concept Coupe – a show car that hinted at the company’s future design direction and was likely to have become a two-door variant of the S60 sedan until the new Polestar strategy.
And in mid 2016, Volvo unveiled two concepts based around its new compact (CMA) platform and upcoming 40-series range. A year later, the 40.1 concept – virtually unchanged — would become the XC40, Volvo’s first ever compact luxury SUV. The 40.2 – a distinctive, high-riding sedan-cum-hatchback – would remain similarly familiar as it morphed into production status, as the Polestar 2 – the brand’s first proper global car.
With Polestar announcing their very first production vehicle – an incredible 600HP hybrid coupe – in 2017, we got to wondering. How did this once-time Volvo racing team end up as a leader in the world of EVs, and before that, a high performance manufacturer under its own brand? Is there Polestar history?
A look back at Polestar’s 20 year history
Oh yes, there is Polestar history. But it didn’t happen overnight. Polestar’s been around since the mid-90s, working with Volvo from the get-go. But before we get into all that, what exactly is Polestar anyway?
What Exactly is Polestar?
As of 2018, Polestar is Volvo’s performance arm, providing tuning and performance upgrades for both existing Volvo models as well as new offerings. You can either buy a Polestar Volvo new, or bring in your existing vehicle to your dealer for an upgrade.
In 2017, Volvo purchased outright the tuning and performance arm of Polestar and decided to spin off the brand as a separate manufacturer to produce high performance electric vehicles.
Before all this performance manufacturing and engine optimization though, Polestar was simply Volvo’s team in the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
History of Polestar
While founded as an independent company, Polestar has always been linked to Volvo. In 1996, the Swedish Touring Car Championship celebrated its inaugural year, and driver Jan Nilsson founded the company to join in on this new racing series – with a Volvo 850.
Let’s take a look back at how Polestar morphed from this racing team to a premier electric vehicle manufacturer.
1996: Flash Engineering
Jump back to 1996 and the British Touring Car Championship was horký. The sport was huge in Sweden and Volvo even had a great showing the year before in Volvo’s new BTCC 850 wagon. Wanting to cash in on the popularity, the Swedish Touring Car Championship was formed.
Seasoned Swedish driver Jan “Flash” Nilsson, who previously raced in Formula Ford and Formula 3, founded the company Flash Engineering to compete in the new series.
Flash Engineering was the official Volvo team in the STCC, with the manufacturer providing funding and vehicles. That inaugural year, Nilsson – the team’s sole driver – drove the Volvo 850 to 1 st place.
The following year, Nilsson – again the team’s lone driver – jumped back in the Volvo 850 and again secure 1 st place. Over the next 6 years, he would also go on to bag 4 2 nd place wins in 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
2005: Sale and Rename to Polestar
Fast forward to 2004 and Nilsson has sold his half of the business to Christian Dahl, who joined Flash Engineering as their chief mechanic back in 2001. The following year, Dahl changed the name to Polestar to “represent the frozen north of Sweden with the pole star and also playing on the connection to pole position and star of racing”.
In 2006, Polestar began to branch out from racing, partially taking over Volvo training for new mechanics and even creating training equipment for mechanic schools. In 2007, they further developed the program, supplying Volvo cars to schools and helping introduce new business methods to dealers.
Of course, Polestar was still heavily involved in racing. For the 2008 STCC season, Volvo asked Polestar to develop the new C30 from into a race-worthy vehicle – Polestar’s first chance to design and build a car completely from scratch.
While the team didn’t break any records with the C30 for the 2008 season, this new vehicle ushered in a new era for Polestar’s relationship with Volvo.
2009: Official Performance Partner of Volvo and Introduction of Performance Upgrades
2009 really marked a sea change for Polestar’s business focus. Driver Robert Dahlgren won the driver’s championship in the C30, with Polestar winning the team championship the following year.
Polestar also became Volvo’s official performance partner in 2009 and, for the first time, left the racetrack, designing and manufacturing performance upgrades for ‘civilian’ Volvos.
On top of all this, they also began producing concept cars based on the C30 and S60, with 100 tuned S60 eventually going on sale in Australia in 2013 – Polestar’s very first production vehicle sold to the public. That same year, a tuned version of the C30 also hit the market.
Polestar continued to race in the STCC and even went international, jumping into the World Touring Car Championship in 2011.
2015: Volvo Buys Polestar Performance
In 2015, Volvo announced they had purchased the performance arm of Polestar as well as the larger Polestar Holding (the owner of the Polestar trademarks). However, they left the racing branch intact under current-CEO Christian Dahl (remember that head mechanic that joined the team in 2001?)
With the change, Volvo began using the Polestar moniker for their high performance models and, now independent, Dahl renamed the racing team to Cyan Racing. Of course, the team is closely connected to Volvo, becoming their official partner. Said Dahl:
“We are extremely satisfied with the way the performance business with Volvo has developed. But we are a racing team first and foremost. This is an opportunity to return our full attention to our core business – to develop and race Volvo cars”
2017: Shift to Electric Vehicles and Independent Branding
With Volvo the sole owner of Polestar Performance, they made two big announcements in 2017:
- Polestar will now produce high performance electric and hybrid vehicles.
- Polestar vehicles will now be branded solely under the Polestar brand – not Volvo.
With these changes, Volvo hopes to compete with other high-performance electric vehicles, notably Tesla.
The first vehicle directly branded as Polestar, the aptly named Polestar 1 or P1, will be available in 2020 only via a subscription service. As promised the P1 will be a serious contender in the performance electric industry, pumping out 600HP via the hybrid engine, with an all-electric range of 93 miles.
After the P1, all models will be fully electric, with the Polestar 2 a mid-sized sedan and Polestar 3 an SUV.
Cyan Racing Goes on to Win WTCC in 2017
Beyond the Swedish Touring Championship of which Polestar was so involved, Volvo dominated the British Touring Car Championship through the 90s, eventually winning the cup in 1998.
Even before then – as most of us know – Volvo was involved with touring, winning the European Touring Car Championship in 1985 with the “Flying Brick” – the same 240 Turbo that landed them the rallycross championships above. The 2.1 liter engine in that 240 pushed out at incredible 300 HP, with a top speed of 161 MPH. With the 242 Turbo, Volvo also took home 1 st place in the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship.
Jumping back to Polestar and the Swedish Touring Car Championship, Volvo/Polestar won the 2009 STCC with the C30. In 2017, Polestar (now Cyan Racing) won the World Touring Car Championship with the S60.
Volvo has – quite literally – been racing since its very inception in the 1920s. From poorly-equipped convertibles on the snow-covered roads of Russia all the way up to the modern S60, Volvo’s put wheels on the track. And with Polestar such a crucial partner in their more recent history, it’ll be interesting to watch where Volvo’s motorsports teams move in the future. With Cyan Racing’s great showing in the 2017 WTCC, it seems pretty promising.
Image Credits: Courtesy of Volvo Press Materials – 1, 2, 4, Creative Commons via Wikimedia – 3, Creative Commons via Flickr – 5
- Post date July 27, 2022
- Post author By Ryan
- Post categories In Polestar, Polestar S60 and V60, Volvo in Modern Culture: Trivia & History, Volvo S60
- Tags BTCC, Cyan Racing, history, performance tune, Polestar, Polestar 1, stcc, Volvo racing, wtcc
