These days, you can't move for Nürburgring lap record attempts, so it's a surprise to learn Volvo has also joined the Green Hell time attack game – and even more surprising is the fact it did its record run back in 2016, yet only now has decided to tell us about it. 

It came about after Volvo race team Cyan Racing remained at the Nordschleife last year after the FIA World Touring Car Championship round, to perform what they describe as being a “secret test”. The main purpose of the evaluation was to gain knowledge and discover ways to improve the road-going S60 Polestar. The team wanted transfer some of their track expertise over to the road-going car. 

Then, just because they could, Cyan Racing decided to have a go at the Nürburgring record for the fastest production car with four doors. 7 minutes, 51 seconds later, the Volvo S60 Polestar established a new record. Although they didn't tell us, this stood for several months, until the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio set a new road-legal production four-door time in September 2016.

The Alfa's time of 7 minutes and 32 seconds ended up beating the S60’s secret time by a whopping 19 seconds. (Do note, we’re not taking into account the Porsche Panamera Turbo (7:38) and the Honda Civic Type R (7:43) here, since they’re both technically five-door cars.)

Volvo S60 Polestar
Volvo S60 Polestar

Even though the Volvo S60 Polestar has been dethroned by the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the result posted by the Polestar-tweaked saloon is still pretty impressive. Updated in 2016, the S60 only has a 367-hp four-cylinder petrol engine, albeit both supercharged and turbocharged. As for the Alfa, it’s propelled by a meaty biturbo 2.9-litre V6 engine using Ferrari know-how to develop a monstrous 505 hp. It's not exactly what you would call a fair fight between the two.

What's more, the S60 has been around since 2010, whereas the Giulia was launched only last year. But a new S60 is due next year, and the Polestar division won't be far behind in rolling out a hot version. Now it's made such a fuss in revealing its 'Ring record run, surely the firm will now attempt to set a new record with the new S60 Polestar? 

Source: Volvo

Gallery: Volvo S60 Polestar