Volvo Polestar editions prove sport and safety coexist (pictures)

Polestar, a separate company from Volvo, is devoted exclusively to racing Volvo cars and tuning up production models.

Volvo and Polestar invited CNET to a day out driving both the S60 Polestar and V60 Polestar editions on road and track.

As a wagon, the V60 Polestar occupies rare ground, as there are virtually no fast wagons available in the US.

The V60 Polestar is heavier by 66 pounds than the S60 Polestar, and offers a slightly different ride characteristic.

Polestar added a rear diffuser for better air flow and upgraded the exhaust system.

The V60 Polestar gets a rear-lip spoiler.

The S60 Polestar enjoys the same host of performance upgrades as the V60 Polestar.

Front air effect helps guide air around and under the car.

An upgraded suspension includes dual-flow-valve Ohlin dampers.

The 3-liter six-cylinder engine relies on a twin scroll turbocharger to generate 345 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, going to all four wheels.

This carbon fiber and aluminum strut brace looks like a cable, and provides good front-end rigidity.

The included sport seats offer good bolstering and are very comfortable.

The steering can be set to three different levels of effort.

A six-speed automatic transmission is the only option, but its software has been upgraded for hard, fast shifts.

The V60 and S60 Polestars come in one fully loaded spec, so they include Volvo's forward-sensing safety systems.

The track feel is a little light, but these Polestar-edition cars are quite enjoyable as weekend sport drivers, and comfortable for the daily commute.