Foreign Pursuit Vehicles
Various foreign car manufacturers offer police package cars in other countries. Many of these cars are much more capable than the cars used in the States, except maybe for the all-conquering Camaro.
The Ford Mondeo, which is a virtual twin of the American Ford Contour, has enjoyed decent sales in Europe. It is also popular with police fleet buyers, especially the ST200 model, a high performance model capable of making about 200 hp. It is relatively affordable and cheap to maintain. This V6 front-driver can reach 60 mph from standstill in less than 7 seconds and a top speed north of 140 mph. Most popular with British law enforcement departments as a pursuit car.
The Volvo S60 and V70 marked Volvo's revolution as a desirable car manufacturer. But it has been supplying Europe's police forces with quick cars for years. The powerful turbo-5 S60 T5 and V70 T5 models produce about 250 hp in European form, applying the power to the road through the front wheels. It reels in most motorway hellraisers in unmarked form. It has served British and other European departments like the Swedish for years. The car reaches 60 mph from 0 in less than 7 seconds and tops 150 mph.
The Peugeot 406 is regarded as one of the best handling economical mid-size sedans ever to come out of France. With the optional 194 hp V6, this front-wheel-drive car hits 60 mph in 7.4 seconds and hits 142 mph. No wonder it is popular with the French traffic police.
GM's Australian Holden division controls a slice of the police car market down-under with its Holden Commodore. This rear-wheel-drive sedan, when equipped with Chevy's LS1 V8, produces anywhere from 300 to 350 hp depending on the trim and model year. Some of the models can reach 60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds. Top speed can be assumed to be above 150 mph. It also services Middle Eastern countries under the Chevrolet Lumina(!) badge.
The cars featured here were just some of the cars used by various departments around the world. Other notable cars are various BMWs and Volkswagens used by the German Polizei, various Fiat and Alfa Romeo models used by the Italian police and Carabinieri, and various Toyota, Nissan and other brands used by the Japanese.
Next
|
|
|
|
|
