Here Come the Volvo Polestars!

2015 Volvo Polestar Models (Credit: © Volvo)

Volvo fans will be pleased to know that the S60 and V60 Polestar models are on their way to customers right now. Both performance-oriented vehicles have left the company’s Torslanda production plant, which has in the past 50 years sent off over 6.8 million Volvo vehicles.

The production of the Polestar models has been a big step for the Swedish automaker in a number of ways. It has marked the first time that an independent business partner has been involved in the production process of a Volvo model, because as some might now know Polestar is not owned by Volvo in any way. It is possible that Volvo, which is flush with cash right now, might change that fact in the future, depending on the success of these and any future Polestar models.

The new models are also helping set a new direction for Volvo. The company has been trying to shed its buttoned-down image, at least to an extent, over the past few years. The challenge is that many customers trust the company for its safety image, and so it has had to walk the careful balance of emphasizing performance more while still stressing that its vehicles are exceedingly safe. The S60 and V60 Polestars appear to have accomplished this balance better than previous attempts, thanks to praise from notable figures like Jay Leno.

The two models are true driver’s cars, thanks to a setup that includes a turbocharged engine that kicks out 350 horsepower. The all-wheel drive system means that the cars can be driven all year, even in areas that receive significant snowfall.

While only 750 models were produced for 2014, there is a strong possibility that more will be made in the coming years. For once, the United States is on the short list of countries that are receiving the new performance models, so if you missed your chance this time, save up your money and try again next year.