National Police Fleet..when Ford & Holden close down.

[csv8]

"The chief advisory agency for Australia's police forces has called on foreign car manufacturers to develop a national police fleet that would replace vehicles currently supplied by the likes of Holden and Ford.

The country's eight respective police forces have been almost exclusively dependent on large, Australian-built sedans with light modifications for their duties in recent decades. But with the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore both bowing out of production by 2017, there are calls to replace them with national-specification vehicles which offer the latest safety and technology, and conform to specific police requirements.

Under the plan devised by the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency, foreign car makers have been asked to put forward specifications for a national prisoner transportation vehicle, national highway patrol car and national general duties car. Submissions for the program closed Wednesday.

"It's about what the market can offer. This exercise is about drawing out ideas from manufacturers that can improve the specifications of police vehicles," said John White, chief executive of ANZPAA.

"There's a lot of complexity. This is the first step to see what's available."

Mr White said prospective vehicles must comply with strict policing protocols, such as a full-size spare wheel, additional seat bolstering to accommodate heavy weapons belts and, in the case of highway vehicles, a certifiable speedometer that is accurate to within 2km/h.

Holden has already developed a police vehicle for the United States. The Caprice PPV, as it is dubbed, is based on the long-wheelbase, locally-made luxury car with specific features for police use, such heavy-duty suspension, a more robust electric system, unique front seats, spot lights and inoperative inside rear door handles, locks and window switches.

Police forces typically replace one-third of their main fleets every three years, or after 60,000km on lease deals, providing an attractive supply opportunity for several overseas manufacturers. Fairfax Media understands Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Volvo, BMW and Audi are among the foreign marques to submit specifications.

While it is hoped the scale of a national police fleet would enable sizeable cost savings, car makers are adamant they will not adversely compromise the specification of their vehicles to qualify for the programs.

"They don't want standard safety equipment deleted, which is a good thing, but we're not interested in taking specification out of cars to meet a price requirement," Mercedes-Benz Australia corporate communications manager David McCarthy said.

"If one model of the Mercedes performance range was going to be used as a highway patrol car, for instance, we're not interested in taking content out. Because then you have an AMG with full equipment on our roads, and one without - and that's going to affect resale value. It's going to come down to price."

Mercedes has submitted applications for all three duty vehicles.

Withstanding price pressures, car makers agree that securing police contracts is an easy way to lift their public profiles and vindicate their vehicle's safety and performance. ANZPAA plans to use the exercise to "challenge the notion" of what police cars ought to be, with Mr White citing V8-powered highway patrol cars – which are now becoming less occupied in high speed pursuits – as one major example.

Around two thirds of Australian police vehicle fleets are the six and eight cylinder locally-made configurations scheduled to disappear in 2017. Between then and the expected roll-out of a national police fleet, there is speculation several police forces plan on stock piling large numbers of Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons for highway patrol vehicles."
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/m...20-gm9s90.html

[OzriderXR8]

[Qwerty321]

I think the NZ Police Force already announced that they intend to continue with Holden as the main supplier of police patrol vehicles after 2017. I believe they'll be using the VXR Insignia as the highway patrol and possibly the 2.0L Diesel for the standard patrol car.

[Franco Cozzo]

They won't design something specifically for our market, there just isn't enough numbers there for it.

They'll source a suitable regular vehicle then send it off to second stage manufacturers to be completely fitted out.

[Windsor220]

Use whatever they use in Europe

[commodorenutt]

Ecoboost Mustang for HWP?

They used Mustangs & F-body GM cars (Camaro) in the US in the 80s & 90s (4th gen Camaro LS1s too).

General duties won't matter much - they're using all sorts of imported stuff already - over the last couple of years I've seen a huge variety including Hyundai I45, Honda CRV, Toyota Camry (that will continue as an import) and both Ranger & Colorado utes.

It's really only HWP they have to worry about with the traditional Commodore and rare Ford V8 & Ford Turbo 6 exclusivity (in NSW at least) for HWP in the last decade or so.

[OzriderXR8]

Both the Falcon and current Commodore replacements would be more than adequate as Police cars. The Insignia is almost as big inside as the Commodore and the Mondeo is not much smaller. I'm sure the performance packs in both are pretty quick and will handle exceptionally well. I'd also be surprised if they both don't already have a police version currently in use in the UK and Europe.

The UK Highway patrol cars are Beemers but they are dealing with cars doing over 100mph on the motorways everyday.

I hired an Insignia diesel in the UK for 6 weeks a couple of years ago and it was an exceptional car

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

They won't design something specifically for our market, there just isn't enough numbers there for it. [...]

I tend to doubt this. Currently there are 7,000 police cars in the combined NSW and VIC forces. Add on another 5,000 (estimated) for Tasmania, SA, QLD and WA and you'll find sufficient numbers for Ford or GM in the US to produce standard, RWD Aussie-specced national police vehicles. Most of the necessary mods are relatively superficial; stronger seating, upgraded wiring harnesses and fuse boxes, an extra battery, certified/calibrated speedos, brakes and wheel/tyre combos.

Or could I suggest the 232kW, 3.8-litre V6 Hyundai Genesis as a left-of-field contender?

[FPV GTHO]

The article says one third of the fleet gets replaced every 3 years. 12,000 estimated units over potentially 9 years isn't lucrative enough to produce anything special.

[csv8]

SYZ..Genesis V8 ? Fusion V6 twin turbo?

[XR Martin]

It will be unlikely that they'll ever again get highway patrol cars that were as quick as XR6Ts.

[csv8]

http://www.policecarwebsite.net/state.html

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by SYZ

I tend to doubt this. Currently there are 7,000 police cars in the combined NSW and VIC forces. Add on another 5,000 (estimated) for Tasmania, SA, QLD and WA and you'll find sufficient numbers for Ford or GM in the US to produce standard, RWD Aussie-specced national police vehicles. Most of the necessary mods are relatively superficial; stronger seating, upgraded wiring harnesses and fuse boxes, an extra battery, certified/calibrated speedos, brakes and wheel/tyre combos.

Or could I suggest the 232kW, 3.8-litre V6 Hyundai Genesis as a left-of-field contender?

Its still not enough numbers to justify a design for us especially, Holden couldn't even manage it building for US Police Forces.

I helped build vehicles for Victoria Police, they were using VW Transporters in CBD to replace Mercedes Vitos.

They'll pick a general duties car and have it sent off to second stage manufacturers like the one I used to work for.

[SYZ]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

The article says one third of the fleet gets replaced every 3 years. 12,000 estimated units over potentially 9 years isn't lucrative enough to produce anything special.

Ford only allocated 4,000 Mustangs for Australia in 2016. Plenty of o/s companies are happy to shift those sorts of numbers in Australia. For example German imports sold 9,211 units in the June 2014 to June 2015 period, and the US 6,925 units. [VFACTS]

I can't see that any o/s manufacturer would knock back an order for 12,000 initial units—even with special mods. Plus another 4,000 units in 3 years.

[commodorenutt]

But it's only the HWP they are concerned about - most GD cars are already imports (or easily capable of being replaced by an import).

If NSW has 400 HWP cars on the road, then really, how many does the rest of the country total up to?

It's really only NSW & Vic who push the "big" numbers of HWP Commodore & Falcon.

WA have long used standard V6 commodores, rather than an SS or XR6T. Qld have used all sorts of cars - even using Aurions for HWP.

So the real numbers are actually much lower than thousands every year.

[Express]

Get more bikes out on the roads.

[Giant Cranium]

I can't see a mustang being used. Imagine when they grab someone drink driving and having to take them to the station. Open door, turn back to offender, slide seat forward, ask offender nicely to crawl in and slide seat back. If they can't take passengers they would have to get a GD to come every time.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by SYZ

Ford only allocated 4,000 Mustangs for Australia in 2016. Plenty of o/s companies are happy to shift those sorts of numbers in Australia. For example German imports sold 9,211 units in the June 2014 to June 2015 period, and the US 6,925 units. [VFACTS]

I can't see that any o/s manufacturer would knock back an order for 12,000 initial units—even with special mods. Plus another 4,000 units in 3 years.

The order would only be 4000 every 3 years, the existing 12000 unit stock would need to continue in circulation

[goo33]

Is it too late to resurrect the Ford Crown Victoria?

Looks like a Falcon.

It's got rear wheel drive.

The donut boys would love them.

Come to think of it, I'd buy one.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by goo33

Is it too late to resurrect the Ford Crown Victoria?

Looks like a Falcon.

It's got rear wheel drive.

The donut boys would love them.

Come to think of it, I'd buy one.

Have you ever been in one. They suck big time.

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Use whatever they use in Europe

VW Golf and Skoda Octavia

[Papou]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

I can't see a mustang being used. Imagine when they grab someone drink driving and having to take them to the station. Open door, turn back to offender, slide seat forward, ask offender nicely to crawl in and slide seat back. If they can't take passengers they would have to get a GD to come every time.

Yep agree with that, will also have to make sure the seat belt is out of the way. Don't want the offender to accidently get caught in that and fall flat on their face!

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by goo33

Is it too late to resurrect the Ford Crown Victoria?

Looks like a Falcon.

It's got rear wheel drive.

The donut boys would love them.

Come to think of it, I'd buy one.

Looks like a Falcon? Wow that's a first.. Looks more like that ugly Recycled Avalon that Toyota tried to peddle to us a few years ago. That model must have had some inspiration from the Clown Victoria...

[goo33]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Looks like a Falcon? Wow that's a first.. Looks more like that ugly Recycled Avalon that Toyota tried to peddle to us a few years ago. That model must have had some inspiration from the Clown Victoria...

So yer sayin it looks like a Falcon and an Avalon ???

What's it with givin the donuts sling-shots?

You lot wanna get caught?

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by goo33

Is it too late to resurrect the Ford Crown Victoria?

Didn't they create a special spec vehicle just for police duty?

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

I can't see a mustang being used..

yeah, terrible idea. looks good though

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Didn't they create a special spec vehicle just for police duty?

image
image

WICKED looking vehicles!

[Chopped]

Interesting that Mercedes (plus the other German brands) don't want to take the "luxury" out of their Australian specced vehicles. We don't want to confirm the myth that they really are just a glorified German Falcon/Commodore, and are used as taxis. They have been ripping Aussies off since they came here.

[CyberWasp]

The Police will use the Fiat Abarth when production of Australian Cars finishes.
When they pull you over, at least they can then ask you why are you driving like a clown.

[mitelsx2000]

Yep both the Aussie & NZ Police have got any issue with their replacement fleet is going to be?