No wonder all the 0-100km/h tests from those car reviews were all slower than the factory claimed .... As they didn't use launch function to maximize the acceleration....

Anyone has played with this?

Launch control is not used in the standard 0-100km/h acceleration measurement

Among other things, this feature appeared in MY2021.
The function did not exist in the 2018, 2019, 2020 models

 

...
Among other things, this feature appeared in MY2021.
The function did not exist in the 2018, 2019, 2020 models

This may not have been documented until 2021, but I believe it exists.
I know my car accelerates much harder "launching" like that.
What I believe but don't know for a fact is happening is this. (based on what I have read from Volvo and the experience)
I think that the ISG will add the 34hp or whatever it is to the engine for up to 10 seconds. This is "bonus torque" that isn't in the 400hp/472tq rated totals because it isn't always available. PLUS, (assuming I'm right, which I'm very sure, but not positive) IF it is from the ISG helping you get the torque multiplication of low gears through the front transaxle, while the EV motor in the rear is constant ratio.
All I do know is with that "Launch mode" (what we called in the 1970s as doing a "Brake Torque") and ESC in Sport mode, my S90 will light up the front end on the street, and on the strip to an extent.
I'd love to do an accel graph and see if it drops off a smidge after the 10 seconds, but need to be at the strip for that since you'd be doing over 90MPH at that point.

 

Can confirm, have used in my 2022.5 S60 T8. Definitely a stronger initial acceleration and I'd second @Pioneer4x4 's thought about the extra oompfh from the ISG. There's also some boost build from the turbo, though less aggressive than a true ICE launch control like on a BMW or Porsche or something.

Also note that the astrisk indicates that the car will limit the number of launches that you can do over the lifetime. I've read something like 60?

 

The strange thing about Launch Control is that the manual, at least for my '21, says it can only be used some number of times (5?) for the entire life of the vehicle. 😅

Also, accusing Volvo of "lagging" behind other manufacturers are silly. Many cars don't have launch control. It's a prioritization issue and until very recently Volvo had the reputation of being a soccer mom transport car bought for safety and launch control isn't exactly in line with that reputation.

 

I would never intentionally do "launch control" on any car, including with my Porsches, as it's not the healthiest thing for your car's engine. That said, I did a variant of "launch control" inadvertently with my XC60 2022 ER at a stop light entering an expressway, in which I had just turned the drive mode from "Pure" to "Power" while stopped; when the light turned green (I was the first car, so none in front of me), I pushed the accelerator pedal down after I took my foot off the brake pedal, and I jolted forward faster than in my Porsches. I was truly shocked how fast it went in Power mode (presumably with everything going full blast, ICE and electric motors, 516 lb-ft of torque), and I thought "note to self: don't stop on the accelerator so hard when starting from stop in Power mode". Yes, there's a shocking amount of power in these new Volvo ER PHEVs -- way more than I'd ever figure Volvo would put into any vehicle. No need to use "launch control" in them, ever -- that's for sure. This vehicle has more torque than two of my Porsches, but the Volvo ERs are nowhere near as stable dynamically while accelerating and at high speed, so more caution needed especially with a high/tall SUV like the XC60 (and XC90).

 

I would never intentionally do "launch control" on any car, including with my Porsches, as it's not the healthiest thing for your car's engine.

What? Launch control does nothing to strain or hurt the engine. You have a Porsche and refuse to use launch control because you think it hurts the engine? Oh man, you would die if you saw how many times I launched my Audi R8 V10 at 8,000 rpm clutch engagment. You are missing out on a lot of fun, and the engineering of the car was completely designed for this. Honestly, have you ever heard of a Porsche, Audi or any other car that actually "failed" because they used launch control? Just because it's "hard" on something doesn't mean it has long term detriments to the car. ABS is "hard" on the brakes, and yet no one has failed brakes because they used their ABS too much.

No need for launch control? Have you heard of having fun? Autocross your car? Sure there is a reason to use it....because it's faster acceleration times

 

I used the built in launch mode in this several times. But honestly with that low 1st gear, and all that torque, it was still better to manually control it and launch in 2nd gear.

And I'd have ZERO qualms about doing it over and over. It was built for that, heck, same engine/trans used in HD Ram dually trucks towing 10,000 pounds. Only downside is saying goodbye to your tires.
Now the new ER S60 is actually quicker, times they are a changin', literally.
And yes, EVERYONE with a T8 of ANY year, try it.
Put your car in POWER mode with a full EV battery (or Polestar if you are fortunate enough) let it warm up for a few minutes.
Come to a dead stop, left foot on brake FIRMLY, mash the throttle and release the brake.
Better than Kennywood...

 

I did ask a tech once and he seemed to remember that 200 was the computer allowed times for launch control. I drive my car pretty hard, but I don't launch it, nor would I with launch control. First... my car doesn't have it... Second, the transmission is tuned to cut torque down in first and I believe 2nd gear. I'm pretty sure all launch control is really doing is removing that. Maybe some other tweaks too. But while it would make the launch feel better, it's not going to get me any additional wins. If it was dedicated track car and I wanted to have a consistent or slightly faster et then okay.. but for street driving/racing/goofing around, I find these cars more of a "pull away" fun sorta car than a off the line car. Heavy just doesn't launch well.

 

Car and driver far outperformed Volvos published performance specs. No mention of whether they used launch control. Would be interesting to know if launch control could improve the car driver test numbers.

Some vehicles only attain published numbers by way of launch control, leaving some disappointment in “real world” performance.

car driver results on polestar Xc60:

60 mph: 4.2 sec
100 mph: 10.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.6 sec @ 111 mph
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 3.2 sec