Australian company wants Pontiac G8 to be next cop cruiser
Police agencies across the United States are chock full of Crown Victoria cruisers. In all, there are over 80,000 Crown Vics on patrol, but the generations-old cruiser is finally getting consigned to history within the next year. That leaves a huge opening to any company that has a suitable replacement, and an Australian company thinks it has what it takes. Melbourne's National Safety Agency is working on newer, safer and more efficient technology for large markets like the US, UK and Canada, and they have a very solid partner in Holden. Holden builds both the Commodore and the Pontiac G8, giving the NSA both left and right hand drive RWD vehicles with powerful engine options. The very capable GM models also adhere to safety and emissions standards in several high volume markets.
The NSA has built a Pontiac G8 police cruiser prototype for an upcoming meeting with the LAPD and the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials, with several police-specific technologies on-board, including a integrated computer mounted into the dash. The G8 will also employs safety technology to keep officers safer, while also reducing the considerable costs that go into retrofitting a vehicle for police duty. Thanks for the tip, Andrew!
[Source: CarPoint]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
BigMcLargeHuge 10:40AM (2/26/2009)
At least I'd know not to race any G8s in the US, since it would be mostly cops driving them.
Reply
Len_A 10:47AM (2/26/2009)
Good point!!
Francis 10:38AM (2/26/2009)
looks pretty boss.
Reply
Jared 10:56PM (2/26/2009)
Needs a cop bumper, window visors, 5% tint, and the black and chrome steel cop rims. The platform is sturdy enough, and the v-8 in the GT would be perfect for cops. If the impalas and chargers can survive cop duty, a G8 can.
katshot 10:39AM (2/26/2009)
While the G8 is certainly a nice car, I'm not sure it's police car material. And as for the prototype shown, THAT car wouldn't last a week in the hands of a real police dept. If any company wants to seriously be considered for police use, I'd think they'd make a prototype that takes into consideration, the durability aspects needed. The car in the picture looks like a base model G8 with a light bar and police paint job. Weak attempt in my opinion.
Reply
mapoftazifosho 10:45AM (2/26/2009)
Perhaps, or most likely, GM would opt to equip the G8 sedan with the Direct Injected version of the 3.6L V6 that currently resides in the base model. Which could give it 300+ hp, while returning 26 mpg highway. Both figures are considerably better than the Crown Vic. Additionally, this car has better suspension and braking components.
The R 10:51AM (2/26/2009)
lol and what do real police departments do aye? i'm pretty sure a crown victoria would be easier to destroy than a G8 and a hell of a lot unsafer for the officers inside
Nixapatfan 11:03AM (2/26/2009)
Yeah I'm sure all the Holden Police cars in OZ are just crap and fall apart in a week on their glass smooth roads in the outback
/sarcasam (yes I have to spell it out)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NSWP_red_Holden_SS.jpg
MikeW 5:48PM (2/26/2009)
245/50 17 on 7.5x17 steelies, with the G8 GT brake system.
That will get you curb jumping abilities. (and 225/55 17 on 7x17 for winter usage)
GM wouldn't need to put the direct injection into cop duty, yet.
Just use the 6L50 first, then let Ford put the 3.7 into the Taurus, and let GM trump with the 3.6 DI
Slizzo 11:09AM (2/26/2009)
That's a GT model (those rims are the GT 18" wheels) and yeah, that's a paint job... Look, the Crown Vic didn't get much treatment to make it a cop car, neither did the Charger..
This is a fantastic idea, the G8 is really a better all around car than the Charger (if you're going to point out interior, the Charger's interior isn't great either, and for police work, either interior is perfectly workable) it's lighter, better handling (for those chases that may occur) and has more interior room/trunk space.
sc00b 11:14AM (2/26/2009)
Disagree. Holden's commodores have made up the majority of Australian/NZ police fleets for many years and iterations now. The Latest VE commodore/Pontiac G8 is what most of the police use in most Aussie states, as the SS model. In NZ they often use the lesser SV6 as a base model for the cop cars. RWD, robust/reliable and not butt ugly. surely a nice change from those crown vic's and caprice's patrolling the streets in the US.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/2090/victorian-police-force-holden-ve-ss-commodore/
Tony2X 11:30AM (2/26/2009)
I disagree that it wouldn't hold up to the abuse. If you've been to Australia you'll see many Commodores and other large GM vehicles tooling around with lights & stripes.
I drove an 1991 ex-Police Vauxhall Senator 3.0 24v which is in effect an old generation Commodore and it still felt tight after 225,000 miles in the hands of London's Metropolitan Police. After 350,000 miles it is still going strong in the hands of a family member.
So big Aussie/Euro GM cars have been pounding the beat for years and I'd fancy my chances of catching someone in a G8 Cruiser over a CVPI any day!
XGM 11:56AM (2/26/2009)
A crown vic interceptor looks like a normal one, but with a paint job and a light bar. Your point is ?
james 1:35AM (2/27/2009)
lol it IS police material. VE (thats G8 for you yanks) SS, SV6 and Omega have comprised local, state and federal Police cars since their release, including highway patrol/interceptor SS-V. These cars were somewhat designed with Police intentions in mind, hence: perfect patrol cars.
steve-o 10:48AM (2/26/2009)
FTP!!!
Reply
Mazda FTW! 10:55AM (2/26/2009)
Here in Mississauga and Brampton (two suburbs of Toronto), almost all of the police cars are now white Chargers with black wheels. And they look bada**.
Reply
MemphisNET 10:59AM (2/26/2009)
Although most of the OPP/Provincial Police cars are still Impala's and CV's, most local and city authorities are switching over to Chargers, with my hometown also scooping up as many Magnums as they could before they were discontinued.
I know some officers dislike them because they are smallish on the inside, but durability & handling wise they love them.
Mazda FTW! 11:02AM (2/26/2009)
I think I saw a Magnum police vehicle near Guelph. I've also seen Tahoe Sheriff's vehicles.
aj121489 11:03AM (2/26/2009)
Yea down in South FL (Fort Lauderdale, particularly) they're using Chargers more and they have these gray unmarked Chargers. They're pretty hard to spot, especially to the untrained eye. The only thing that would really set em off is the tint (but there are plenty of tinted Chargers down there) and the lights in the grill if you can see em
Steve 11:14AM (2/26/2009)
Grey unmarked cruisers? Sure it's not the FBI Buffalo coming to rat you out?
(Does anyone get what I mean at all?)