With the above posts, I would like to write a few words on my experience (for a day) attending the Polestar training and driving these cars under some pretty severe conditions. I will not get into "how fast" or exactly where it was done but let's imagine for a moment that these cars were driven in roads that included rough asphalt, smooth asphalt, some very (and I mean very) tight mountain/canyon roads (one lane each way) with a mountain on one side and some very big drops (in the several hundred feet) on the other side. Traffic, there, was minimal to non-existent and it was up to you (and your own abilities) to see how far you could push the car.
I drove two cars, both V60s (since they were my preference over an S); a Passion Red R-design and a Rebel Blue Polestar. The R-design was equipped with 19" IXION wheels shod with Bridgestone Potenza summer tires. The Polestar, naturally, had its standard 20" Polestar wheels shod with Michelin Super Sport tires.
Before I get into the driving, I must mention that I am very happy Polestar and Volvo have decided to enter a partnership that is not short term. These guys are very experienced, dedicated to racing excellence from where many elements have trickled (and will continue to) down to these Polestar-tuned cars. I am also very happy for my company that has, finally, decided to enter this field. Even though such products are going to be limited in production, I am positive that this will grow which is great news for both Volvo and Volvo enthusiasts. Polestar is, albeit small, definitely not a company that just slaps on parts and only pumping up the power of an already sporty Volvo. Its expertise in tuning a car, with the PROPER SUSPENSION set up and the meticulous wheel/tire set up, is admirable and one can quickly realize that this has come from many, many years of having raced Volvos on numerous tracks and from having achieved great results.
I drove, first, the Polestar. Its suspension set up was set "a couple of clicks" toward the firmer setting, since we would be taking them in some very tight mountain roads at higher, than normal, speeds. There are twenty "clicks" on the Ohlin shocks; toward the left, the shocks are set toward a softer setting toward the right, you are headed more for a stiffer setting all the way to track settings.
The total ride was about 25 to 27 miles and I split it with my co-driver; a very good driver who also has had experience driving cars on the track.
The Polestar was extremely well composed no matter what we did to it. Driving it very fast over pavement rises, at very high speeds, its setup did not let it leave the ground. The faster I went, the more downforce was created and you felt it. It exhibited some under steer under extreme cornering but it never got a away from me. Not bad at all, for a front wheel drive-based car.
I took some very tight turns (almost as tight as a hairpin) that were downhill, uphill, uneven entrance and exit...the car was super composed. The roads were off camber, most of the time, so that put some limits on how I pushed the car or how brave I wanted to be. The tail never wanted to push out. It was not DSTC that kept it in but the suspension set up plus the reprogrammed Haldex sending power to where it was needed, as I gave it more power when exiting.
The sound of the exhaust was simply exhilarating and inspired me to push the car or just simply enjoy driving it on a regular pace while pushing it a little when going uphill. Its suspension, albeit firm, was not punishing at all. Actually, it armed me with so much confidence that (after a few miles) it allowed me to trust the car and use whatever skills I have to a degree I could not with any other Volvo (including previous generation Rs).
As mentioned above, Polestar did increase the power of the R-design; however, this car is more about inspiring you to drive it with confidence, through its overall set up. That is what makes it a very able car which can morph into a simple daily driver or a very able machine ready take the track or a tight mountain road.
The brakes felt very good although, by the end, the pedal was a bit softer and required a little more travel (I did not feel a braking performance deterioration); I am sure the brake fluid temp was "a few degrees" higher but that was to be expected. If there is one thing I would wish for is that I would have preferred the brakes to have been a bit more "touchy" but that is a personal preference. The brakes never betrayed me no matter what I did with them.
The tires were super impressive. Polestar told us that they did extensive tire testing before they settled on the Michelin Super Sports and I think they made a perfect choice. The road noise is pretty low, as well.
Now, onto the R-design. One of my favorite models and nothing I am about to write should be taken as this car is not good. Getting into this beautiful red car, right after the Polestar and taking it through the exact same road I drove the Polestar, allowed me to have a very good comparative experience and appreciate both cars for what they are.
It was evident, from the first corner, that there is quite a difference in the suspension (and tire) set up between these two cars. The R-design felt quite softer (and it is not a soft car) and much looser. What was more pronounced was the under steer (only when pushed very hard, not entering a corner just aggressively). That was one of the two, stark, differences between the two cars. The tail also "tried to come out" on me on several occasions. Of course, the electronics and the car itself prevented the tail to completely push out but I had to work a little harder to keep the car where I wanted to go. Still, the R-design impressed me with its ability to stick with me in how hard I was pushing it.
The shifts were not as crisp as in the Polestar. Overall, it felt like the more "comfortable" car not from the suspension standpoint only but from the overall driving experience. It is a car that I would have no problem pushing hard and I know it would not get me in trouble (like a regular suspension FWD Volvo could) in the way I pushed it. Where the Polestar stood out was that it gives you confidence, lots of it, and it proves it to you when pushed to its (and your) limits.
There is, undoubtedly, Polestar DNA in the R-design (drive a regular T6 AWD and then an R-design to realize the differences). The Polestar is just a great step up; no doubt, it is not a BMW M or a hard track car (most are RWD platforms). Polestar did a fantastic job in taking the R-design and finding a great balance between a suspension set up that will allow you to drive it comfortably in and out of the track.