While American law enforcement agencies use D.A.R.E. cars like the ridiculous BUSTang for parade duty and public relations, their European counterparts redefine the entire concept of one-upmanship with their special vehicles. In Italy, there's the full-dress Lamborghini Gallardo, while Germany has a TechArt-prepared Porsche 911 Carrera S (photos of both after the jump).
Now you can add the Netherlands to that list, as Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker created a C8 Spyder with all the proper markings and even a light bar for the Flevoland police. You can check out the story and look at a full photo gallery over at AutoWeek.nl. (You can use this to translate it.)
Thanks to Miki for the tip!
(More police exotica after the jump)
[Source: AutoWeek.nl]
POLICE EXOTICS:
Click to enlarge
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
swe @ Oct 15th 2006 9:54AM
well... in sweden we have volvos and saabs :P
Green Lotus Elise @ Oct 15th 2006 10:03AM
"1. well... in sweden we have volvos and saabs :P"
Don't forget Koenigsegg, that would be a damn fun police car!
The "best" I've seen around Kentucky are a few Corvette police cars, which needless to say is kinda sad while looking at the photos above.
Alex Nunez @ Oct 15th 2006 10:22AM
In fairness, Green Lotus Elise, the Vettes you see in KY are probably real, bona-fide pursuit cars, whereas the Spyker (and the Lambo and Porsche) are show ponies. That's why I compared them to the D.A.R.E. cars and not real "working" cruisers.
Sid @ Oct 15th 2006 10:29AM
They need to put that Gallardo in the next Need For Speed.
Man I miss those old NFS games with the Lambo and 'vette cop cars. Stupid ricer-tuner games.
Js @ Oct 15th 2006 10:46AM
Actually, the Lambo is used on the road. It functions as a chase car when needed, but it's main use is organ transport if I remember correctly. I know that in Germany they actually use Porsche's as chase cars and patrols on the autobahn. But this Spyker was made just for the show. It was presented on "Police Day" as an item to spike interest and draw crowds, not like it will ever see any real service. A one time show car..
Misaniovent @ Oct 15th 2006 10:55AM
As far as usability goes, the Charger police cars are pretty sweet. Too bad they usually have the V6. That Gallardo is quite nice, however.
Alex Nunez @ Oct 15th 2006 11:07AM
Js is correct, but note that the Lambo is also used for its share of PR (hence the photo of it under the Brooklyn Bridge, as it made an appearance in a past year's Columbus Day Parade in NYC).
The TechArt Porsche I included was also done as a promo car, as opposed to an actual Porsche pursuit vehicle.
farris @ Oct 15th 2006 1:37PM
"It was presented on "Police Day" as an item to spike interest and draw crowds..." -Js
Dont you mean "spyke interest"?
Alright, i'm done.
John @ Oct 15th 2006 1:45PM
In fairness to the silliness of the DARE cars, they are primarily built to appeal to school children. The cops use them to do drug awareness lectures on playgrounds. Hence the Hotwheels aesthetic. Not that a few Lambos wouldn't be appreciated, of course. I'm sure local PD's would be open to donations....
Mustang @ Oct 15th 2006 1:56PM
Is this just a one time promotional thing that Spyker put together or does that police department actually own it? If they actually bought it sounds like a great way to waste the tax dollars.
Bandit V.S @ Oct 15th 2006 3:13PM
there´s nothing like being chased by a Pathfinder running on kerosene....
Disco Stu @ Oct 15th 2006 3:32PM
Spyker's are sweet. The UK police make do with EVO's and Subaru Impreza's to catch the pieces of crap car thieves.
icerabbit @ Oct 15th 2006 7:12PM
You gotta love the helmet in photo #2 on the autoweek.nl page linked. LOL.
Anyhow. I'd love to go for a ride in that car.
Rence @ Oct 16th 2006 7:32AM
Here's what they had in the early '80s, 911 and chopper, again with the cool helmet :) :
http://www.politiemuseum.nl/UserFiles/Image/spreekbeurt/45000171reg.jpg
MadMax @ Oct 16th 2006 5:50PM
Negative, both the Lambo AND the Porsche are used regularly. The Porsche to catch super car speeders on the Autobahn and the Lambo to do the same on the Autostrada...
Spectacular Bid @ Oct 27th 2006 6:15PM
The Netherlands have been using Porsche's to enforce speed laws for quite some time. Didn't Porsche donate a couple of 911s years ago to the Nevada police (HQ of Porsche North America) in a goodwill gesture?
This website [below] shows that in the early 1960's the Italian police used at least one specially equiped Ferrari 250 GT/E!
http://www.italiaspeed.com/2006/cars/alfa_romeo/02/159_police/2202.html
Also I recall reading, perhaps it was an urban legend of sorts, a Lamborghini Countach had been donated to the Texas State Police in the late 1980's. I'm sure with the massive cost of upkeep (even if they issued huge speeding fines) the economics wouldn't have been there to support its use.
Greenie @ Feb 16th 2007 7:14AM
Lotus just donated an Exige to the police in Sydney, Australia:
http://www.gizmag.com.au/go/6843/
Not sure how long it will last. Years ago they were donated Subaru WRX and Volvo V70 T5 cars and both were crashed and destroyed within weeks.
carino @ Apr 27th 2007 1:35PM
Check this out too http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/police/dscd0142.jpg
http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/police/police14.htm