The S60 Polestar is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder that develops 257kW, enough to fling it to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds. VOLVO launches the first car produced with Polestar; huge discounts on Surface RT tablets; and why knitted gloves are not hokey. CARS: Volvo has launched the first car produced with its motorsport partner Polestar: a hotted-up version of its S60 sedan. Polestar, Volvo's Swedish racing partner, tuned the suspension and engine, which drives all four wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. Just 50 examples will be built, at $109,950 apiece, and its arrival marks Volvo's return to racing in Australia. Last week it announced it would enter next year's V8 Supercar series in partnership with Garry Rogers Motorsport. - Philip King GADGETS: Microsoft is set to offer huge discounts to educational institutions that buy its Surface RT tablets. The Surface RT costs $559, discounted to $459, on its Australian website. However, a Microsoft order form posted on the internet has the 32 gigabytes Surface RT priced at $US199 ($215) for orders placed until August 31 via SurfaceEDU@microsoft.com. That's a 62 per cent discount. The deal will apply to 25 countries including Australia. The order form and blog summarily appeared and disappeared online, but we have a copy and Microsoft locally has confirmed the deal, which is due to go live today. With iPads being rapidly adopted in schools, Microsoft obviously wants a big slice of the action. - Chris Griffith TRAVEL: Tall Ship Lord Nelson, on a 23-month circumnavigation of the world "in the name of equality and inclusion," will arrive in Australia on July 20. The 55m square rigger, built to accommodate disabled sailors, will log four Equator crossings and visit 30 countries on seven continents during its epic voyage. More than 1000 able-bodied or disabled people will have the opportunity to sail on the vessel, operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust charity organisation, during the circumnavigation. Berths are still available. No experience necessary; minimum age 16. More: jst.org.uk. - Michelle Rowe STYLE: Some men may think that knitted gloves are a little hokey, but I'm here to tell you otherwise. There's something rather charming about patterned knit gloves, especially in that old-school, Fair Isle style. ABC foreign correspondent Stephen McDonell is often spotted reporting from the wintry depths of China in his snowflake patterned ones, so let him stand as an example to you all. Even better when that traditional style is updated, such as these from Paul Smith, with checks, stripes and peace signs. Perhaps McDonell should add these to his repertoire. About $140, mrporter.com - Glynis Traill-Nash FITNESS: Winter means it's harder finding the motivation to get outside and exercise. But the colder months should really provide no excuse for dodging your morning run. Dressing appropriately is the most obvious advice. You should be wearing clothing that leaves you cool when you first step outside but comfortable after about 10 minutes as your body warms up. An undershirt designed to wick moisture away is a good start as sweaty clothing will soon become cold clothing. For the same reason, overdressing can be just as bad as leaving yourself too exposed. An outer layer that easily can be dispensed with is a good idea. Drinking water remains just as important when it's cold as when it's hot. - Simon McLoughlin HEALTH: Your ethnic background may go some way to explaining whether your children will be obese. The University of Sydney has taken a look at NSW primary school students and found kids from Middle Eastern and Asian backgrounds are more significantly overweight than children from English-speaking backgrounds and also have lower levels of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness. The rates of kids with low socioeconomic status who were overweight or obese was also higher among boys from Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds. Their female counterparts were heavier regardless of status. The university's Debra Hector says obesity prevention efforts in Australia need to be targeted at such groups. "They need to reach, and be culturally appropriate for, children who are most at risk," Hector says. - Sean Parnell