strut tower brace from Polestar... worth it?

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by sk546

Hi Philip, the Polestar Optimisation software flash completed by the Volvo dealerships is exactly as you say and only affects engine and gearbox. This can be added to most SPA and older models should the owner wish to part with their hard earned cash (which I highly recommend they do).

The Polestar Engineered model is a separate model above the R-Design Pro and Inscription Pro in the S60, V60 & XC60 ranges that is ordered from the dealership. The Polestar Engineered model is a highly adapted R-Design Pro that is sent to the Polestar site during the cars build (or at least it was when my car was built) where they add very trick Ohlins coilover suspension (in place of the air suspension), a front strut brace, some very big and powerful front brakes, lightweight forged alloys, a polestar specific exhaust, slightly more sporty front seats and some gold seat belts to name but a few of the different changes over the other models. I believe, but cant confirm, that a slightly different software package is also in use that gives different brake pedal modulation, ABS, ESP, Stability and even front diff settings to utilise the extra grip, traction and braking power the car has.
Overall, its a very different beast due to these changes but definitely not for everyone. If you are used to the carpet of air feeling normally associated with Volvo driving comfort, the Polestar Engineered rides stiff even with the dampers in their soft setting but the handling is on another level completely.
I was very disappointed with the level of body roll with the cars I test drove on air suspension but that has almost completely gone now due to the Polestar Engineered Chassis changes.

That is really interesting thanks. Can I ask how much more the car cost? Also does it still have the full Volvo warranty? For insurance purposes is it classed as modified, or is it still described as "standard manufacturer specification"? I guess the root of the question is whether Polestar is classed as the part of Volvo and therefore still the manufacturer?

[sk546]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

That is really interesting thanks. Can I ask how much more the car cost? Also does it still have the full Volvo warranty? For insurance purposes is it classed as modified, or is it still described as "standard manufacturer specification"? I guess the root of the question is whether Polestar is classed as the part of Volvo and therefore still the manufacturer?

It was about £5k more than a similar spec R-Design Pro T8 with Polestar optimisation when I bought mine which put it a little over £60K (Carwow deal helped) when I ordered mine 2 and a half years ago. Brand new List price is just under £66K at the moment for the MY22 cars which get a bigger battery (18.8kwh), more powerful elec motor (145hp) and all the Google connected drive stuff but its well specced so not really many options need adding.
It comes with full Volvo warranty and as it leaves the factory as it is, its classed as completely standard and to manufacturer specification so I dont have to declare anything (except my K&N filter) to the insurance company.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Clan

Its only a fashion statement in my opinion , Do you really think the volvos boron steel chassis is going to bend and wobble enough when driving to make any differences to wheel alignment or geometry ? They have a metal bulkhead bracing the two top mounts anyway even on the S40/V50 ranges ...
These struts are used on old rally cars to stop the suspension towers flexing and cracking on long tough rallies driven extremely . if you find a MK3 Ford escort and grab a suspension tower and push and pull you can actually see it flex !

All cars', even F1, chassis flex. Alignment is measured in fractions of a degree, so to follow the argument, anything that provides additional bracing is going to be of some benefit in maintaining the correct alignment.

Some chassis flex more than others, of course, and the merits of maintaining absolutely correct alignment on a hefty lump of a vehicle like this on deformable road tyres must be very, very small indeed, and whilst I'm sure they would be measurable by the Polar Engineers, will be absolutely irrelevant to road drivers IMHO.

(So we agree, but are approaching it from different angles )

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by sk546

Before I ordered my XC60 Polestar Engineered, I test drove a T8 Inscription Pro and a T8 R-Design Pro, both on air suspension, and the handling differences between those and the PE model are quite significant, how much of that is strut brace related as opposed to the Ohlins dampers and other PE specific chassis differences I couldn't tell you.
However, its always worth trying as until you do, you will never know.
All I can say is the Polestar guys defo know what they are doing, the way I can hustle my XC60 PE down a back road (with the dampers in their stiffer settings) is quite unbelievable for a 2.3 ton hydrid SUV but they managed to make it happen with some tweeks, one of which is the strut brace.

I used to run a Clio Trophy. It was fitted with Sachs fully-adjustable motorsports front struts as OE. It was like night and day against the standard Clio 182. In every other respect they were identical, including alignment (and IIRC a slightly lower ride height for the Trophy, plus lighter wheels to reduce unsprung weight). I don't know the extent of the Polestar fettling, but I can give first hand testimony regarding the transformational effect of (much) better struts.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

(So we agree, but are approaching it from different angles )

But those angles will change slightly as you go over a bump

[Familyman 90]

Although the strut towers are integral with the firewall on the Mk2, so are already very effectively braced along their length right down to the chassis forward rails. I can't see that a brace will do anything that the firewall and associated torsion bracing won't already be doing.

This is rather different to more conventional or older cars where the towers are well foward out on the chassis legs leaving lots of opportunity to flex.

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by sk546

It was about £5k more than a similar spec R-Design Pro T8 with Polestar optimisation when I bought mine which put it a little over £60K (Carwow deal helped) when I ordered mine 2 and a half years ago. Brand new List price is just under £66K at the moment for the MY22 cars which get a bigger battery (18.8kwh), more powerful elec motor (145hp) and all the Google connected drive stuff but its well specced so not really many options need adding.
It comes with full Volvo warranty and as it leaves the factory as it is, its classed as completely standard and to manufacturer specification so I dont have to declare anything (except my K&N filter) to the insurance company.

145hp plus the internal combustion engine... we're talking about what? combined power? 445 hp? 300+145?

or are we talking about 320+145?465?

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by Clan

Its only a fashion statement in my opinion , Do you really think the volvos boron steel chassis is going to bend and wobble enough when driving to make any differences to wheel alignment or geometry ? They have a metal bulkhead bracing the two top mounts anyway even on the S40/V50 ranges ...
These struts are used on old rally cars to stop the suspension towers flexing and cracking on long tough rallies driven extremely . if you find a MK3 Ford escort and grab a suspension tower and push and pull you can actually see it flex !

Ok. To be honest I think you're right. I already informed myself everywhere. I seek info. I don't go on blind shopping.


But again I ask you all... WHY THE HELL DID VOLVO INSTALL A STRUT BAR IN THE POLESTAR ENGINEERED MODELS?

p.s.: Sorry. I didn't see. You already answered why in your opinion.
And sorry about the caps. Didn't mean to. 👍

[sk546]

Originally Posted by VOLVOL0VER

145hp plus the internal combustion engine... we're talking about what? combined power? 445 hp? 300+145?

or are we talking about 320+145?465?

Volvo have gone midway between your two above figures with 310 from the ICE and 145 from the Elec motor = 455 combined.

Decent hike in electric power (55hp) but a 20hp reduction from the ICE compared to my Polestar Engineered.

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by sk546

Volvo have gone midway between your two above figures with 310 from the ICE and 145 from the Elec motor = 455 combined.

Decent hike in electric power (55hp) but a 20hp reduction from the ICE compared to my Polestar Engineered.

MY20 XC60 PolestarEngineered= 420hp combined.✔ 👍