Volvo has unveiled the engine that will power its Volvo Polestar Racing S60s in the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship.
Announced in June, the racing engine has been modified and built by Volvo’s performance partner, Polestar, in collaboration with the engineering team that developed the Swedish car maker’s upcoming ‘Drive-E’ family of four-cylinder engines.
The engine is based on the brand’s 4.4-litre ‘B8444S’ V8, which was developed for Volvo by Yamaha and has been built in Japan since 2005. The V8 was available in Australia in the XC90 SUV from 2006 and in the S80 sedan from 2007 before being phased out of the local line-up in 2011.
Modified to a larger 5.0-litre capacity to meet the race series’ regulations, the aluminium engine features a 60-degree vee configuration and double overhead camshafts.
Development of the race engine began in May, with the first block completed in October and the first dyno run conducted in mid November.
Polestar managing director Christian Dahl says motorsport fans will instantly recognise the distinctive soundtrack of the S60s’ V8.
“We have completed a number of high-rev simulations and long-distance runs and we’re very happy with the figures and outcomes we’ve achieved,” Dahl said.
“The next step is to fit the engine to the race car and continue the pre-season development timetable.”
Volvo will become the fifth manufacturer on the 2014 V8 Supercars grid – joining Ford, Holden, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan– when it debuts at Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 in February.
