Following on from our recent post about the world’s top driving roads, we decided to look into just what exactly the local law enforcement use to patrol these racing circuit roads – and we were impressed by what we found.
So here’s a rundown of what we think are 12 of the coolest (and in most cases fastest) cop cars in the world.
What do you think of our choices? Which is your favorite police car? What have we missed?
Let us know in the comments!
#12. Jaguar XF Diesel S Police Car
The The Central Motorway Police Group that operates across the Midlands in the UK, have recently placed an order for 7 high-performance new patrol cars based on the award-winning 3.0-litre Jaguar XF Diesel S model.
The new vehicles feature a roof-mounted light bar (3600 blue flashing lights), integrated side alley lights, blue and white flashing LED lights inside the front grille, side-mounted blue flashing LED lights, blue and red flashing LED lights integrated into the rear light clusters and a Home Office-specification electronics ‘Police pack’ that powers a full suite of electronic equipment.
#11. Lamborghini Gallardo Polizia
Back in 2004 Lamborghini supplied the Italian Polizia di Stato with a brand new and unique Gallardo. The Gallardo ‘Polizia’ was to be used by traffic officers Salerno-Reggio Calabria autostrada in Southern Italy and for high-speed delivery of transplant organs.
Fitted with sirens, flashing lights and a distinctive blue and white State Police livery, there was also a variety of medical equipment and advanced technological apparatus for receiving and transmitting information and images. Other sophisticated equipment included a satellite navigational system with GSM microtelephone, a ‘Provida’ system to record violations and send images in real time, direct connection to the Police database and an Elsag ‘Autodetector’ system for number plate recognition.
#10. Spyker C8 Spyder Police Car
Giving the Italians and Germans a run for their money, the Netherlands have their own super Police car, the C8 Spyder. Created for the Frevoland police, the C8 is a hand built roadster built by Spyker and powered by an Audi 4.2L V8.
#9. Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe Police Car
Yellow Gallardos have been “temporary” police cars for the Metropolitan Police in London, England, one in 2005 and one in 2006, for specific publicity events. The 2006 vehicle was seen at the start of the 2006 Gumball Rally. Both vehicles were lent by Lamborghini London and were fitted with yellow and blue battenburg markings, police logos and a small blue lightbar.
#8. Mini Cooper Polizei
#7. Lexus IS-F Humberside Police Car
The high-performance Lexus IS-F features a tuned 5.0-litre V8 engine capable of reaching 62mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 168 mph.
Humberside Police’s Roads Crime Section made the decision to purchase the Lexus IS-F after the vehicle proved to be exceptionally capable of remaining stable in high speed operational policing environments, despite carrying the extra weight provided by the £30,000 worth of on-board computers and communications equipment.
#6. 2005 TechArt Carrera 997 Police cruiser
Based on a Porsche Carrera S (997), this TECHART police patrol car was the symbol of a car safety campaign across Germany.
This eye-catching patrol car was unveiled at the Essen Motorshow in 2005 to promote safe and responsible car tuning, and to help educate enthusiasts about the inferior and often illegal car modding products available on the market.
#5. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti HGTS Police Car
Ferrari created a special version of the flagship V12 four-seater 612 Scaglietti liveried in police colours to be used when Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary relay started the UK leg.
The Ferrari 612 Scaglietti HGTS is a version of 612 with police car colour scheme, HGTS (Handling GTS package) and also has Daytona style seats, personalized stitching and leather details, yellow rev counter, yellow brake calipers and Scuderia Ferrari shields.
The vehicle began its relay at the UK on the 18th may 2007, which was driven by police officers at the front of the UK tour throughout the 1500 miles from Belfast to London.
#4. Sussex Police Lotus Exige 2007
This 220bhp lightweight Lotus Exige S was handed over to the Sussex police as a new initiative to help the officers engage with young drivers.
“Rather than sending a standard response unit to the scene of a disturbance caused by younger drivers getting together and doing donuts, we want to talk to the younger drivers,” says Sergeant Paul Masterson. “We talk about the car, its performance and their cars. Once the barriers are down, we can talk to them about more serious road safety issues.”
#3. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo-X-Police Car
Used by the UK’s Yorkshire County Road Crime Units, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X police cruisers impressed the Police Inspectors with their “strong visual impact, performance and safety credentials.”
Each Evo X is fitted with a new Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, capable of locating and tracking any fleeing motorist with ease.
The new member of the team will be used on the same missions and at the same time as its previous-generation siblings, creating such a strong visual impact that the vehicle being pursued will often simply give up the chase and pull over, knowing they won’t be able to out-run the RCU. What is more, the Police Evolutions ‘hunt’ in packs of three, which, Inspector Slack explained is often enough of a deterrent that high-speed chases are avoided.
#2. Chevrolet Camaro SS 2010 Police Car
Built from a new Camaro SS, the Haltom City, Texas police department decided to enlist the help of a local custom shop built this menacing new patrol car.
Haltom City Police commissioned Classic Chevrolet of Grapevine, Texas to build this one-of-a-kind Camaro SS police car complete with an LED bar on top, embedded bar in the rear window and a blue light strip embedded behind the muscle car’s devious grin. Scary stuff!
#1. Mercedes CLS Brabus Rocket Police Car
Revealed at the Essen Motor Show, this jaw-dropping Brabus creation was built for the German Tune It Safe! campaign.
With a top speed of 225.19 mph, the twin-turbocharged CLS V12 S Rocket certainly lives up to its nickname.
7 Comments
The RCMP in Canada have used quite a few interceptors over the years. During the late 60′s and early 70′s the standard car was a Dodge Polara with a 440 cu in (7.2l) V-8 Police Interceptor package. These were fast cars that could do 135~140 mph day in and day out. Remarkable because they were the standard car used by almost all officers, plus at the time the standard RCMP colors were a distinctly purple-ish hue of blue.
The RCMP during the 90′s and 00′s used Ford Mustangs and Chevrolet Camaros in highway interceptor (full paint and lights) configuration. I’ve seen these cars many times; they were not the standard issue (Chevrolet Caprice with Corvette spec 350 / 5.7l V-8s and later Ford Grand Marquis 302 / 5l V-8s) but many detachments had one to go along with the rest of the fleet. I’ve seen them many times on highway patrol use, sometimes performing stops.
One car missed is this BC RCMP black and white ford escort.It is a fully equiped police interceptor, however it is mostly for show. To top it off, it has a red cherry on top, and a rotating ornament on the trunk.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52794962@N03/5744001364/in/photostream
All of them are so awesome that I want to be a police to ride them. It makes criminals shake in terror and never want to outrun justice ever again!
I vote for the Mini. Los Angles Sheriff’s Department is testing 17 Mini Cooper (electric) for BMW. For many situations the small size is very practical and stylish as well. The interior space is much larger than expected and they handle very well. They are relativly inexpensive and if the back seats are flipped down there is plenty of stowing space. Other that that they look cool!
Lexus IS-F Humberside Police Car is the best, it definitely does it for me….
I like the German Mini Cooper because the colours are so clean and fresh and make it look a little like a lettuce sandwich!
The Lamborghini Gallardo Polizia would be my first choice. Runner-up? The Chevrolet Camaro SS 2010 Police Car. I love American-made muscle.