NSW Highway Patrol insider suggests European and US alternatives are on the cards after the end of Falcon

[csv8]

"NSW Highway Patrol insider suggests European and US alternatives are on the cards after the end of Falcon and Commodore as we know them.

It’s about to get even harder to spot the Highway Patrol when you’re out on the roads, as police will likely be hiding behind the polished grilles of high end luxury models from Europe and the USA - including a family SUV.

After a lengthy selection process brought on by the end of Falcon XR6 Turbo production this year and V8 SS Commodores in 2017, the NSW Highway Patrol has reportedly narrowed its choices down to a Volvo SUV, diesel BMW and a sports version of the menacing Chrysler 300.

According to one insider, we'll soon see an eclectic mix of pursuit vehicles, including the “Chrysler 300 SRT, BMW 535d, and the Volvo XC90".

The Chrysler 300 SRT is the the least surprising of the trio, being a traditional four-door sedan with a 6.4-litre V8 that's capable of flinging the American muscle car from zero to 100 in about 4.5 seconds, thanks to 350kW and 637Nm of torque. It's also closest in price to the existing local heroes, at $65,000 for the 'Core' model and $75,000 for the full-fat SRT, but either is still a considerable hit over the circa-$50,000 locally produced muscle sedans.

The left-field Volvo XC90, as a high-riding, large SUV, is easily the most puzzling choice.

A diesel BMW is less of a straightforward choice, but the 535d is certainly no slouch, with its twin-turbo, three-litre diesel pumping out almost as much torque as the big, American V8 at 630Nm. Being a diesel, it's a little down on power, at 230kW, but it's still capable of a scorching 5.3-second run from zero to 100km/h. Unfortunately, the Bavarian four-door will need a lot of juicy tickets to cover the cost of its $123,700 hit to the hip pocket.

The left-field Volvo XC90, as a high-riding, large SUV, is easily the most puzzling choice. That said, the hybrid T8 version has 300 battery-assisted kilowatts on tap, as well as a combined torque figure of 640Nm. But a sticker price of $122,950 puts it well on the far reaches of acceptability. The cheaper, non-hybrid T6 is a more likely candidate, even though at $101,950, each XC90 will come for the price of two SS Commodores. Even the entry-level diesel XC90 starts at close to $90,000.

The $59,990 Ford Mustang V8 automatic did seem the most likely candidate for future highway cops, until its transmission overheated during a simulated pursuit while being evaluated at the NSW Highway Patrol's testing circuit in Goulburn.

If the Mustang had been successful, it would have meant that Highway Patrol officers could continue with a powerful, rear-wheel-drive car like they’re accustomed to. Although officers do undergo regular training, it's focused on controlling oversteer, balancing throttle and maintaining traction. Four-wheel-drive vehicles like the XC90, require a vastly different driving style when pushed to their limits, requiring retraining for the entire Highway division.

This isn't Ford's first track failure; the existing Falcons needed upgrades to both brakes and transmission to pass the gruelling Highway Patrol entrance exam.

The NSW Highway Patrol is yet to officially confirmed these expensive, left-field choices.

That said, the Subaru WRX, which was another early front-runner, washed out of the competition after failing the Highway Patrol's merciless braking test. NSW's requirements for its highway patrol cars are far higher than that of its neighbour states and territories – the Ford Mustang and Subaru WRX are just two of a raft of cars to have failed its stringent tests, including the Toyota Aurion, which is in active use in other states.

The NSW Highway Patrol is yet to officially confirmed these expensive, left-field choices, but the Highway Patrol is responsible for far more than just chasing down speeding drivers. They're often first on the scene at serious accidents, armed robberies and violent assaults, thanks to a combination of quick cars, trained drivers and the fact that they're already out on the road, not back at the station."
http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news...els-exit-42237

[Junkyard-Dog]

Something I observed last night while out on the town was simply how long the VF Commodore is. As a police car it seems to be counter-intuitive to choose a vehicle with a such a long wheel base.

I actually witnessed the police having to maneuver through a 4 point turn just to turn around and chase somebody down on a standard two-laned street (it was Hindley street, Adelaide). It seemed like a shorter vehicle would have been able to make it's way around there in 3 or less movements but the Commodore looked like a beached whale trying make it's way back out to sea.


I realise the HWP isn't the same as the average patrol car but I don't think there is much need for a massive RWD car any more, in fact I think it's almost a detriment to use a large vehicle these days.

[TheInterceptor]

Wouldnt trust anything a highway patrol person has to say.

What does it matter what car they use anyway? If youre unlucky enough to have to speak to one of them people youre not going to care. If youre being pursued and dont wreck out qucikly, chances are youll have a chopper on you pretty quickly which spells game over for any runner and you may aswell give up.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

Something I observed last night while out on the town was simply how long the VF Commodore is. As a police car it seems to be counter-intuitive to choose a vehicle with a such a long wheel base.

I actually witnessed the police having to maneuver through a 4 point turn just to turn around and chase somebody down on a standard two-laned street (it was Hindley street, Adelaide). It seemed like a shorter vehicle would have been able to make it's way around there in 3 or less movements but the Commodore looked like a beached whale trying make it's way back out to sea.


I realise the HWP isn't the same as the average patrol car but I don't think there is much need for a massive RWD car any more, in fact I think it's almost a detriment to use a large vehicle these days.

Fiesta ST highway patrol cars

===[[8]]=====[[ ]]===

WEE WOO WEE WOO POLICE CHASE!

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

Wouldnt trust anything a highway patrol person has to say.

What does it matter what car they use anyway? If youre unlucky enough to have to speak to one of them people youre not going to care. If youre being pursued and dont wreck out qucikly, chances are youll have a chopper on you pretty quickly which spells game over for any runner and you may aswell give up.

In suburbia, yes. In rural areas more than 200km from a major city, by the time PolAir chopper arrives, the fleeing driver is long gone. Either way, the police don't need high powered vehicles. In suburbia, there's very little chance of escaping. Out in the middle of nowhere, there's no point trying to chase.

[Herrod Motorsport]

I think mustang will make a perfect highway car .

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Herrod Motorsport

I think mustang will make a perfect highway getaway car .

Fixed

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

In suburbia, yes. In rural areas more than 200km from a major city, by the time PolAir chopper arrives, the fleeing driver is long gone. Either way, the police don't need high powered vehicles. In suburbia, there's very little chance of escaping. Out in the middle of nowhere, there's no point trying to chase.

Ah yes. This is true. But on the flip side, the odds of a chase happening in the sticks isnt as much as in the smoke. It would pay to have a decent chase car where it might make a difference.

However if coppers want to do people for petty hoon offences then i hope they do get away. If there are not enough easily nabbed criminals then somebody has to create new easily nabbed criminals.

[Brazen]

The BMW I think will be used, the NSW HP already have a very good relationship with BMW with the use of their police motorbikes

[Trump]

The BMW could be had for $85k at govco fleet pricing and no LCT. Which means they'll turn them over every five years instead of the current 80,000km.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

The BMW could be had for $85k at govco fleet pricing and no LCT. Which means they'll turn them over every five years instead of the current 80,000km.

Yes and I think the proposed model would be that they wouldnt end up at Government auctions. Instead BMW would buy them back at the end of the lease - refurbish a little (new tyres, carpets, etc) and sell that as certified pre-owned through their dealership network.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

Something I observed last night while out on the town was simply how long the VF Commodore is. As a police car it seems to be counter-intuitive to choose a vehicle with a such a long wheel base.

I actually witnessed the police having to maneuver through a 4 point turn just to turn around and chase somebody down on a standard two-laned street (it was Hindley street, Adelaide). It seemed like a shorter vehicle would have been able to make it's way around there in 3 or less movements but the Commodore looked like a beached whale trying make it's way back out to sea.


I realise the HWP isn't the same as the average patrol car but I don't think there is much need for a massive RWD car any more, in fact I think it's almost a detriment to use a large vehicle these days.

My bosses vf r8 makes my panelvan look small.

To me, the only realistic option is the 300c, spending close to a 100k on on e car is retarded.

[Wretched]

BMW would probably the choice, they already have police pack cars available.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Yes and I think the proposed model would be that they wouldnt end up at Government auctions. Instead BMW would buy them back at the end of the lease - refurbish a little (new tyres, carpets, etc) and sell that as certified pre-owned through their dealership network.

The snob set wouldn't buy them though, they'll see ex-police and walk away.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Brazen

The BMW I think will be used, the NSW HP already have a very good relationship with BMW with the use of their police motorbikes

They're on Yamaha FJRs now arent they?

[Crazy Dazz]

Why do they need one?
For today's policing all they need is a segway and sign that says "Please stop doing that, you are hurting the Dolphins."

[LUV DE COUPE]

Saw a Audi police car in Wagga last week.

[arronm]

Govt should support the local car industry as much as possible. Surely Holden and Ford will have something to offer?

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Why do they need one?
For today's policing all they need is a segway and sign that says "Please stop doing that, you are hurting the Dolphins."

Agreed.
They don't need 300kws and 600nm to pull someone over who is doing 83 in an 80 zone on an inner city motorway. They spend a lot of time doing that sort of work.
As soon as a pursuit reaches high speed or once the suspect does something crazy the pursuit is called off.

[4vxc]

Originally Posted by b2tf

They're on Yamaha FJRs now arent they?

Correct, have been for a while. People think they are BMW's for some reason

[Trump]

Vicpol use BMW bikes.

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Junkyard-Dog

Something I observed last night while out on the town was simply how long the VF Commodore is. As a police car it seems to be counter-intuitive to choose a vehicle with a such a long wheel base.

I actually witnessed the police having to maneuver through a 4 point turn just to turn around and chase somebody down on a standard two-laned street (it was Hindley street, Adelaide). It seemed like a shorter vehicle would have been able to make it's way around there in 3 or less movements but the Commodore looked like a beached whale trying make it's way back out to sea.


I realise the HWP isn't the same as the average patrol car but I don't think there is much need for a massive RWD car any more, in fact I think it's almost a detriment to use a large vehicle these days.

At 11.4m turning circle, I don't think its THAT bad.
Also, its tighter than any of the 3 cars listed as alternatives (300 srt, 535, XC90)

Also for comparison, thats a smaller turning circle than a Mondeo at 11.6m, and just 0.4m bigger than a Ford Focus and Holden Cruze at 11.0m.

What are the detriments to a larger Police car?

[Fordman1]

I'm tipping VicPol HWP will go with Volvos

[cycle myth]

Originally Posted by arronm

Govt should support the local car industry as much as possible. Surely Holden and Ford will have something to offer?

I'm not sure what that would be post Falcon?

[Wretched]

British police suit up with Ford Mustang GTs

It might be as American as apple pie, but the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] Mustang looks surprisingly correct swathed in the distinctive neon Battenburg paint scheme of the British police.

Ford's pony car is being "assessed" by police forces in the United Kingdom as a potential patrol car.

British police cars aren't exactly known for their style, but the country's rozzers do tend to select something with a little more oomph than many other European countries. Typical police cruisers have included turbocharged Volvo XC70 and BMW 330d wagons lately, but the police have also used Land Rovers in the past.

Not the first Mustang police car

The Mustang under consideration in the U.K. is a V-8-powered GT, a model that went on sale late last year and has done well in that market now that it is finally offered as a factory right-hand-drive model.

Ford is no stranger to cop cars, but one thing it hasn't offered on the latest Mustang is an official police variant. Of course, that hasn't stopped Hollywood from envisioning what one would look like. Director Michael Bay recently revealed a ready-to-transform Mustang police car set to play a role in the upcoming Transformers: The Last Knight film.

Still, even though we don't want to see one in our own rearview mirrors, we do look forward to an official police version of the Mustang someday. Incidentally, over here, the Los Angeles Police Department has just agreed to add 100 BMW i3 electric cars to its fleet. Wait, Brits testing V-8-powered Mustangs and the Americans in electric city cars... something doesn't add up.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...rd-mustang-gts

[blk6t]

I think there is a few more factors than just "pursuits"...HWP are usually first on the scene of accidents, and other emergencies given they are out and about and have faster, better handling cars than a paddy wagon or fire truck.

Secondly the current cars do intimidate people who consider doing a runner from an RBT site for example. If your driving a little I30, you know a XR6 Turbo is going to be on your *** very quickly and will out brake most cars on the road. If the Popo had I30's for HWP cars, a drunk driver with a XR Sprint will go for the runner.

I think the current NSW HWP cars are the best looking in the country and are all V8's or Turbos. Probably biased