Published: Jul 16, 2012

Volvo Planning V40 Polestar Hot-Hatch

Volvo and its racing team Polestar teaming up to go after Audi S3, BMW M135i and upcoming Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG.

If you're a fan of Volvo's new V40, we've got good news. (That is, at least, if you live in a market unlike North America where the V40 will be sold.) Word on the street is that Volvo is planning a spectrum of performance models based on its new sport-hatch. First in the pipeline, according to the boys over at PistonHeads, will be a V40 T5 that will revive the spirit of the old 850 T5 with a 254-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine driving either the front wheels (at first) or all four (in a subsequent AWD version).

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That V40 T5 AWD could, if reports prove accurate, lead to an even hotter version with as much as 300 horsepower. The hot hatch would target the BMW M135i and Audi S3, and be developed in conjunction with Polestar. It would be the second official Polestar performance model to be sanctioned by Volvo, following the 508-horsepower S60 Polestar that is set for very limited production. Expect further details to be released around the Paris Motor Show in September.