650 HP Volvo S60 Supercar Unveiled for V8 Supercars Debut

Volvo Polestar Racing has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 650 HP Volvo S60 Supercar. The powerful machine made its debut in dramatic fashion, driving across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge under police escort, signaling its imminent entry into the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship. This event marks a significant milestone for Volvo’s return to top-tier Australian motorsport.

The team is set to compete in the competitive series, bringing the Volvo S60 Supercar to race fans. For those interested in the broader world of high-performance vehicles, you can explore options like v8 supper cars to understand the variety in the market.

Statements on the New Volvo S60 Race Car

Christian Dahl, owner of Polestar, highlighted the significance of the unveiling. “This is a significant day,” he stated. “Polestar has been Volvo Car Group’s global performance and motorsport partner since 1996, and has campaigned Volvos in the World Touring Car Championship, the European Touring Car Championship and, currently, the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship. To that end, we’re looking forward to the challenge of the V8 Supercar Championship.”

Matt Braid, Volvo Car Australia Managing Director, shared the enthusiasm. “This is an historic day in the history of Volvo Car Australia,” said Braid. “As the first luxury car manufacturer to enter V8 Supercars with a factory team, we’re delighted to reveal our Volvo S60 race car to meet the challenge of the world’s toughest touring car series and strengthen the presence of the S60 model line – and Volvo brand – here in Australia.”

Joining Dahl and Braid at the presentation were drivers Scott McLaughlin and Robert Dahlgren, alongside team principal Garry Rogers, who presented the race car to the media.

Technical Specifications of the Volvo S60 Supercar

Utilising the combined resources of Volvo, Polestar, and GRM, the Volvo Polestar Racing S60 V8 Supercar has been designed and built to adhere to V8 Supercars’ ‘Car of the Future’ regulations. These stringent regulations dictate specific components such as 18-inch wheels, a transaxle gearbox, and independent rear suspension, ensuring a level playing field while promoting advanced engineering.

Robert Dahlgren, one of the drivers, commented on the car’s performance, describing it as immensely challenging yet thrilling to pilot. “This is a race car like no other. It is really challenging, but fun, to drive. The power is insane, you need to treat it with respect. I am very much longing for the season start in Adelaide where I am going to face the biggest challenge of my racing career,” Dahlgren shared.

Volvo S60 Supercar crosses Sydney Harbour Bridge for official debut

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• Vehicle: Volvo S60
• Engine: Modified Volvo B8444S (see below)
• Transmission: Control Albins ST6 6 speed sequential Transaxle with integrated spool differential
• Front suspension: Double wishbone suspension, adjustable damper and cockpit adjustable front anti-roll bar
• Rear suspension: Control independent rear suspension, adjustable damper; cockpit adjustable anti-roll bar
• Brakes (Front): AP Racing 6 piston caliper, 395mm ventilated discs
• Brakes (Rear): AP Racing 4 piston caliper, 355mm ventilated discs
• Wheels: Control Rimstock 18” x 11” forged aluminium
• Tyres: Dunlop control tyre
• Weight: 1410KG (includes driver)
• Top speed: 298+ km/h
• 0-100 km/h: 3.2 seconds
• Steering: Custom rack and pinion power assisted steering
• Shocks: Öhlins TTX Dampers
• Electronics: MoTec ECU and Data Logging System

Engine Specifications

• Block: Modified Volvo B8444S, 60 degree aluminium cylinder block
• Heads: Modified Volvo B8444S, aluminium
• Bore x Stroke: 95.5 x 87.1
• Capacity: 4989cc
• Compression: 10:1
• Power: 650bhp (estimated)
• Max revs: 7500rpm
• Induction: Naturally aspirated, eight throttle bodies
• Fuel: E85
• Liners: Cast in steel liners
• Valve train: Double overhead camshafts, direct acting tappets
• Ignition: Volvo B8444S coil on plug
• Injection: Port injection, one injector per cylinder, injection pressure: 5.5 bar

A Rich Motorsport Heritage

Volvo Car Australia boasts a rich history in Australian motorsport, tracing back to the 1960s. Over the decades, they have achieved significant milestones, including the memorable victory in the 1986 Australian Touring Car Championship with Robbie Francevic behind the wheel of a Volvo 240T.

A particularly celebrated moment occurred in 1998, marking the 15th anniversary of Volvo’s win in Australia’s most famous race, the Bathurst 1000. Jim Richards and Rickard Rydell piloted a Volvo S40 to victory in that iconic event. Indeed, many distinguished names in Australian motorsport history, such as John Bowe and Peter Brock, have tasted success competing with Volvo vehicles. The landscape of Australian motorsport includes major championships like the Repco Supercars series, featuring highly competitive repco supercars cars battling for supremacy.

Upcoming Races and Testing

Garry Rogers, Team Principal at GRM, expressed immense satisfaction with the team’s effort in bringing the car to life. “For all the GRM staff it is incredibly satisfying to see the next step of all the hard work and energy they have put into designing and building the Volvo S60 V8 Supercar over the last 12 months. During this process, this same group of workers were also responsible for the preparation and running of our 2013 V8 Supercar Championship cars, so it makes me extremely proud to be surrounded by such a never-say- die group. We cannot wait to get on with the racing.”

With the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide fast approaching at the end of February, testing of the Valvoline Volvo S60 Supercar continues. The official V8 Supercar test day is scheduled to take place at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 15, providing crucial preparation time before the season opener.

You can watch the S60 V8 Supercar crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge via the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA8u7x6KLF0

2014 V8 Supercars Calendar

• February 15 – sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day – Sydney Motorsport Park
• Feb 27-Mar 2 – Clipsal 500 Adelaide – Adelaide
• Mar 13-16 – 2014 Formula 1 Australian GP – Albert Park
• March 28-30 – Tasmania 400 – Symmons Plains Raceway
• April 4-6 – Winton 400 – Winton Motor Raceway
• April 24-27 – ITM 500 Auckland – Pukekohe Park Raceway
• May 16-18 – Perth 400 – Barbagallo Raceway
• June 20-22 – Skycity Triple Crown Darwin 500 – Hidden Valley Raceway
• July 4-6 – Townsville 500 – Reid Park
• Aug 1-3 – Coates Hire Ipswich 400 – Queensland Raceway
• Aug 22-24 – Sydney Motorsport Park 400 – Sydney Motorsport Park
• Sept 12-14 – Wilson Security Sandown 500 – Sandown Raceway
• Oct 9-12 – Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – Mount Panorama
• Oct 24-26 – Armor All Gold Coast 600 – Surfers Paradise
• Nov 14-16 – Phillip Island 400 – Phillip Island Circuit
• Dec 5-7 – Sydney 500 – Sydney Olympic Park

Looking Ahead to the 2014 Season

The unveiling of the volvo s60 supercar marks a significant and exciting moment for both Volvo and Australian motorsport. With a powerful car built to the latest regulations and backed by a dedicated team, the return of Volvo to the V8 Supercars Championship is highly anticipated. Fans can look forward to seeing the striking S60 compete throughout the 2014 season, starting with the Clipsal 500.