Regular readers of our blog are aware that we had a Launch Party
on November 17th to celebrate the arrival of the All-New 2019 S60, but
it almost didn't happen when news came late that the vehicle we had on
order from the factory would be delayed till after November 17th. At
the time of publication, it still hasn't arrived.
It didn't take long to realize we couldn't have much of a launch party without the car, so after several phone calls, Volvo Cars stepped up, offering to send in its place, an S60 that was set aside for press events and factory tours – and what a car it was! The vehicle they sent us was a special Polestar Engineered T8, of which there were only 20 made. After going on sale in June, they reportedly sold out in 39 minutes!
The
car arrived late Thursday afternoon, and not only was there a palpable
buzz around the dealership because it was the first time many had seen
the all-new S60 in person, but it was accompanied by the realization
that this might also be the last time they’d be this close to such a
rare car.
To a Volvo enthusiast, the car is something to behold.
Polestar, Volvo’s world championship-winning motorsport partner, tuned
the engine to deliver 415 horsepower and 494 lb.ft of torque, fitted it
with Öhlins dynamic suspension, Brembo brakes, a strut bar and other
performance enhancements, including lightweight 19-inch forged alloy
wheels to reduce unsprung weight, and styling features that are unique
to the T8 Polestar Engineered S60.
Also on display during the
event were some classic Volvo sedans, including a 1995 850 T5R in Cream
Yellow, and three older generation S60s, including a 2003 S60R, a
pre-facelift 2013 S60, and a 2018 S60.