Heico Sportiv’s remastered Volvo S60 - The S60 Volvo should have made
Earlier this year Volvo brought the curtain down on the Volvo S60 in the UK, as well as their other S90, V60 and V90 models. This also coincided with the removal of diesel engines from their range as the company focuses its efforts on its electric and SUV line-up.
Whilst this is understandable given the general direction of the car industry, one can’t help but feel saddened at this decision as the days of interesting, slightly left field Volvo saloons and estates (the stalwart vehicles of UK police forces for a generation) will soon be no more.
As we bid farewell to the Volvo S60, we couldn’t help but take one last glance at what we think is the best looking version that was ever made. Those looking for a re-engineered Volvo may have opted for the Polestar edition of the S60 range and a fine version it is, however those looking for something even more special, individual, rare may want to consider Heico Sportiv’s offering.
Heico Sportiv is a German based tuner and motorsport company that has specialised in refining and racing Volvos since 1972. It has developed tuning programmes for the full suite of Volvo vehicles and also now increasingly provides modification packages for Polestar cars too. Back in 2008, Heico even supplied the UK and Irish police forces with a bunch of Volvo V70 and XC90’s to chase down the bad guys.
The tuner offers an extensive package for the Volvo S60 with performance upgrades for the 250hp T5 and 310hp T6 engines (up by 42hp and 60hp respectively.)
The engine’s soundtrack is enhanced with a quad tailpipe sports exhaust system which can be supplied with an optional remote for flap control.
A new adjustable sports suspension package lowers the front between 20 – 45mm and between 5 – 35mm at the rear. Stopping power is enhanced using a 6 piston high performance braking system.
A range of alloy wheel options are available but our favourites have to be Heico’s Volution alloys, available in 20 and 21 inches. Exterior bodykits including front spoiler, rear diffusers are provided in different trim packages for the S60 including; Momentum, Inscription and Bright variants, as well as the R-Design and Dark Polestar Engineered variants.
The enhancements continue into the interior including Heico branded sports steering wheel, aluminium shift paddles, aluminium pedals, as well as other Heico nozzles and buttons – all a reminder that this is a different Volvo S60 to a standard factory version.
Image source: Heico Sportiv
In our opinion, the Volvo S60 is a good looking car, but the improvements from Heico Sportiv transform the S60 into the car it should have been all along.
Volvo’s decision is understandable and arguably the most sensible as sales of its saloons and estates now account for less than 10 per cent of UK sales, whilst sales of its SUV’s and electric vehicles are growing.
As the sun goes down on the Volvo S60, we can’t help but think that if Volvo could have made a version as good as the Heico Sportiv S60, could it have convinced more of the Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar drivers to switch over? Looks like we will never know. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
Whilst there’s plenty of Volvo S60’s (and other Volvo saloons and estates) out there at the moment, there will be a time when they become a rarer sight on UK roads. What will be an even rarer sight is a Heico Sportiv S60. And if you are currently driving an S60 or considering purchasing one, it maybe all the more reason to consider taking a look at how Heico Sportiv can transform this car into the car it should have always been.
Video source: Heico Sportiv