NSW police force gets new high-speed sedans
Source: NSW Police Facebook page
Crooks beware! The NSW police force is upgrading its fleet of Holden and Ford cars.
The NSW police force has revealed it will replace Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore traffic and highway patrol cars with BMW and Chrysler alternatives.
A three-year search for replacements
After decades of using Aussie-built cars, the NSW police force undertook an intensive three-year search for replacements that were ideally suited to Australian law enforcement conditions. In the end, police representatives assessed 17 different vehicles, including the new Commodore ZB. Manufacturers had to demonstrate their car’s durability, ergonomics, handling and performance.
Finally, they chose the German BMW 530d sedan and the American Chrysler SRT Core to take the place of discontinued Ford and Holden cars. The new cars will start patrolling in July 2018.
Both BMW and Chrysler have a lot of experience in building Best police cars globally. Similar models work as law-enforcement vehicles in North America and Europe already.
Police car specs
While these new police cars may look like ordinary sedans that are available to the public, they are specifically modified for policing duties. BMW outfits the 530d with a factory developed police pack. The modifications include M Sport spec brakes for increased stopping force, adjustable seating for comfort and ditching the sunroof to install an LED emergency light bar.
The factory also sheds some of the standard luxury features, making room for police equipment. In tests, the 530d’s 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine delivered twice the fuel efficiency of the outgoing Commodore SS patrol cars.
The Chryslers aren’t hypermilers since the beefy 6.4-litre V8 glugs 13.0L/100km. But the American chase car has got serious legs and will reach speeds in excess of 280km/h. Chrysler technicians will also modify the suspension, brakes and drivetrain to meet police specs.
Both cars will carry a complement of the latest crime-fighting tech, including automatic number plate recognition cameras, connectivity to police database computers, mobile phone sensing gadgets and speed-detection radar.
Civvy-spec cars cost $119,000 for the 530d and $76,000 for the SRT. Though, with an order sheet of possibly 200 vehicles, the police will have negotiated a decent fleet discount.
Police safety a priority
In a statement, Assistant Commissioner for NSW police Michael Corboy said the safety of police officers is paramount when making purchasing decisions.
“The safety of our police officers and the community they serve is our top priority, and both these vehicles demonstrated the safety levels meeting our requirements.”
Corboy also hopes these new models will go a long way in reducing the road death toll across the premier state.
“Equally as important, the platform of both vehicles supports the state of the art technology that is key to the government’s focus on reducing the incidents of road trauma across New South Wales.”
BMW and Chrysler "honoured" to work with police
BMW’s Australian CEO, Marc Werner was delighted to furnish the police with vehicles.
“We are honoured by our association with the New South Wales Police Force and delighted that our officers will be driving BMW’s safe, efficient and dynamically superior vehicles.”
Fiat Chrysler Australia boss, Steve Zanlunghi, said the SRT was the perfect fit for NSW police officers.
“After rigorous testing and extensive consultation, we’re thrilled to offer a vehicle that combines the perfect blend of performance, handling and state of the art technology for the New South Wales Police in their endeavour to support the community."
Car loans for used police and government cars
It’s likely that the used fleet of Commodores and Falcons will go to a government auction, meaning you could net yourself a cheap car. Check out our guide on how to buy a car at auction and make sure to compare secured and unsecured car loans before you head out to grab yourself a former pursuit car.
