2014 Mercedes S Class, Porsche 918 Spyder, Six-Wheeled Volvo...

Driving Volvo's KERS Flywheel Hybrid Prototype: What It's Like

Performance RS Models To Play Role In Audi's Growth: Report
2014 Lexus IS Gets TRD Upgrades

It’s Finally Happened: Bugatti Veyron Joins Dubai Police Fleet

Volvo's Six-Wheeled Crossover Camera Car: We Want One!
Porsche Hybrids, Autonomous S Class, Nuclear Mustang: Today's...

2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray Spotted On Set Of New Captain...

Aston Martin Teases Its CC100 Speedster Concept: Video

Jay Leno Drives The Volvo C30 Polestar Concept: Video

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Editor BIO

Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of Motor Authority... More

LATEST ARTICLE
2014 Mercedes S Class, Porsche 918 Spyder, Six-Wheeled Volvo: This Week’s Top Photos
Without doubt the biggest news of the week was the introduction of the all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S... Read More

#1LEADERBOARD RANK
9108ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
127COMMENTS POSTED

2,164 views Apr 27, 2012

Follow Viknesh

Add to circle

Volvo C30 Polestar Concept

Enlarge Photo

Most people are unlikely to associate Volvo with performance, but the Swedish automaker has offered several notable sporty variants of its regular lineup in the past under the R performance range.

The S60 R, for example, was introduced in 2003 and boasted a 300 horsepower turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission and Haldex all-wheel drive system.

Today, Volvo leaves the performance tuning of its vehicles up to Polestar, the same Swedish firm responsible for the automaker's racing efforts and more recently its dealer-installed ECU tuning software.

As television personality and avid car collector Jay Leno recently found out in his online series, Jay Leno’s Garage, Polestar has significant plans for future high-performance models from Volvo, and as a preview of what’s to come one need only look at 2010’s Volvo C30 Polestar racing concept.

Leno was given a chance to drive the C30 Polestar as well interview Polestar chief Hans Baath. As you may have guessed, after driving a hot hatch with 451 horsepower under the hood, a trick all-wheel drive system and a curb weight of around 3,000 pounds, he comes away quite impressed at the end.