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Volvo V40 To Get Polestar-enhanced Performance Flagship: Report

Volvo is reportedly preparing a new S3-rivalling V40 flagship with more than 200kW and all-wheel-drive. Volvo's new V40 hatch will already include the powerful T5 engine at the top end of the range, but new reports out of Europe suggest the tru

Mike Stevens

02:4017 July 2012

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Volvo V40 To Get Polestar-enhanced Performance Flagship: Report

Volvo is reportedly preparing a new S3-rivalling V40 flagship with more than 200kW and all-wheel-drive.

Volvo's new V40 hatch will already include the powerful T5 engine at the top end of the range, but new reports out of Europe suggest the true flagship will be a new Polestar-enhanced model.

Known both for its racing partnership with Volvo and the performance package available with the S60 sedan, Polestar is understood to be playing a more significant role in Volvo's consumer range.

According to enthusiast site PistonHeads, Volvo UK boss Nick Connor has confirmed that a V40 Polestar model will arrive in 2013, offering all-wheel-drive and "at least" 10 percent more power than the 187kW T5 model.

With those sorts of figures, the V40 Polestar will make an obvious rival for the likes of the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R, and a reasonable alternative to the BMW M135i and upcoming Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG.

If it exists, watch for the V40 Polestar to debut at September's Paris Motor Show at the earliest.

As for the rest of the range, Volvo Australia has confirmed we can expect a local debut either in late 2012, or early next year.