Volvo V60 Polestar | spy shots

Volvo's S60 Polestar got worldwide applause when it arrived earlier this year, even though it was a limited edition of 50 examples and only available in Australia.

And now it looks like Volvo is preparing an encore, with what appears to be a Polestar version of the new V60 wagon caught testing at the Nurburgring recently.

Dressed in the unmistakeable Polestar blue livery beneath mild camouflage, the V60 mule uses the body of the freshly-updated 2014 model, and sports a new twinned-spoke wheel design on top of Brembo brakes, an R-Design front fascia with added lip spoilers, roof spoiler and rear diffuser flanked by twin single exhausts similar to the existing Polestar flagship.

The existing Polestar model makes do with the brakes from the volume T6 R-Design Polestar model, so the Brembos on this mule suggest that we’re in for more than the current flagship’s 257kW/500Nm and 4.9 second 0-100km/h performance.

This power is likely to come from a version of Volvo’s upcoming Drive-E 2.0 litre turbocharged and supercharged direct-injected petrol four, which Volvo has already confirmed as being capable of more than 225kW. 

There’s also a chance of plug-in hybrid assistance, with the new engine being designed to work in tandem with electric motors.

Such a hybrid twin-charged unit could approach 300kW, considering Volvo's Powertrain vice president Derek Crabb’s confirmation that such an engine "will reach power figures in the V8 territory" when speaking to Carsguide earlier this year.

Considering AMG manages to screw 265kW from the 2.0 litre engine in the A45 and CLA 45 twins with just one turbocharger, 300kW from the new Volvo engine with an extra supercharger and electric motor is well within the realms of possibility.

It’s fair to assume that the current Polestar and T6 models’ Haldex all-wheel drive system would be carried over to a more powerful Polestar model, while the upcoming eight-speed Aisin-Warner automatic transmission with paddle-shifters would likely handle shifting duties. 

However, speaking with Carsguide today, Volvo Australia managing director Matt Braid was unable to confirm that a Polestar performance flagship version of the 2014 V60 or S60 was in the works. "We would certainly hope so, but I cannot confirm any mode plans or timing at this point."

When asked about the Nurburgring mule, Braid admitted that he’d only seen those photos himself today. "Australia was the test case for the Polestar brand. We've had a positive response so far, so that bodes well for future models," he added.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn