Vauxhall unveils new police package Insignia
Vauxhall Special Vehicles Police Package - Click above for high-res gallery
GM UK Special Vehicles has just introduced its take-no-prisoners Police-specification Vauxhall Insignia. Available to police fleets throughout the UK, the car is available in sedan or Sports Tourer body styles (shown above). Powertrain choices include a 220 PS (216 hp) 2.0-liter turbo or a 260 PS (256 hp) 2.8-liter with all-wheel drive. A 160 PS (157 hp) diesel 2.0-liter is also available.
In addition to the flashy graphics, the Special Vehicles division is offering Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) cameras, the Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) system, a roof light bar with 360-degree blues, side alley lamps, full communication equipment and, of course, sirens. Covering all of the bases, the special Vauxhall division is also able to supply vehicles for high-speed paramedic delivery and fire brigade support. Press release after the jump.
[Source: General Motors]
WHY CROOKS SHOULD FEAR THE CAR OF THE YEAR...
New Police-specification Insignia announced:
160PS2.0 CDTi diesel or 260PS 2.8-litre, or 2.0-litre 220PS turbo petrol engines
Available to order as a 'turnkey' vehicle, no conversion required
Following its crowning glory as 2009 European Car of the Year and the recent launch of the all-new Sports Tourer, it may seem there's no getting away from the Vauxhall Insignia.
And now, there really isn't! GM UK Special Vehicles has pulled the wraps off the all-new Police specification version of the car, which can be supplied to order to Police fleets throughout the UK.
Three versions are available. A high-speed pursuit car featuring either 2.0-litre 220PS turbo or a 2.8-litre 260PS petrol engine and all-wheel-drive, or a 160PS 2.0CDTi patrol car, with a choice of body styles – although it's the Sports Tourer that is expected to be the most popular among British forces thanks to its ability to swallow cones, signs and beacons, all part of the daily routine for a Police vehicle in the UK.
"We believe the Insignia gives us a great opportunity for the UK Police vehicle market," said Dick Ellam, GM UK Manager, Vehicle Conversions. "Already we've had a great response from professional police drivers, who have compared its performance and handling characteristics to those of more expensive premium-badged vehicles used by some forces. In these tough economic times, when Police forces are spending public money, this makes the Insignia an even more appealing option."
The Police Insignia is available to order direct from GM UK Special Vehicles and comes equipped from the production line with all of the necessary patrol car equipment, including Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) cameras, Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) system, roof lightbar with 360 blues, side alley lamps, sirens and full comms radio equipment.
The cars are based on standard models from the Insignia range and are converted in a special facility at GM's proving ground in Millbrook, Bedfordshire.
This 'turnkey' solution is ideal for Police forces in the UK, as GM UK Special Vehicles can supply ready-made police vehicles to order at very short notice, for example if a patrol car is written off in a collision. As well as the new Insignia, Vauxhall supplies Police-prepared variants of all of its model ranges including commercial vehicles, along with applications for other emergency services such as ambulances, high-speed paramedic response vehicles and support vehicles for fire brigades.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jake 9:35AM (5/15/2009)
We don't trust you carry a gun and you have to drive that mommy-wagon over there. Now, go catch some speeders.
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Bloke 9:57AM (5/15/2009)
Many motorway police use high performance Volvo T5 estates here. Still, that would seem strange to someone used to common-or-garden ancient Crown Victorias.
Alex 10:45AM (5/15/2009)
Hey, they may be ancient..............................................................sorry I really don't have a come back. The regional police service that I have in my area use a combination of Crown Victoria's(actually there called police interceptors that just use a crown vic bodies) and Chevy Impala's with police packages, not to mention Chargers, Magnums, Tahoe's, Expeditions and Suburbans. I think Carbon motors needs to prove that they can make a great police only police car or maybe GM should import still born Pontiac G8's as police cars. Ever since I saw the G8 I thought it could and should be used as a police car.
paul34 2:10PM (5/15/2009)
I suppose its all relative, though, to be fair. Most of Europe has more curves and tight roads than here in the US, so the amount that a baddie could get ahead in a chase is probably less than on our wide open and straight roads here.
Bloke 2:29PM (5/15/2009)
Paul34: how do you come up with such ridiculous summarisations? It's actually easier for a patrol car to lose another car in a high speed chase along crowded and narrow roads compared with a motorway, because police cars still have to drive in accordance with the surrounding environment. The car's livery in the picture is used for motorway high-speed pursuit vehicles - it's intended so it can be easily seen.
Bloke 9:36AM (5/15/2009)
Flashy graphics? Autoblog, in this country that's standard motorway police dress.
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LoneWolf 9:41AM (5/15/2009)
It still looks flashy ;)
Borger 11:38AM (5/15/2009)
How quaint ...
Redline 10:03AM (5/15/2009)
Those graphics look standard UK to me.
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Harrison 11:32AM (5/15/2009)
That's one really cool wagon!
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axio.matik 12:11PM (5/15/2009)
I think the point was that the graphics are flashy compared to typical US graphics packages on police cars.
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Michael Harley 12:19PM (5/15/2009)
Exactly. Our U.S. law enforcement vehicles are absolutely bland in comparison. It is always nice to see others (U.K. included) with some flash and style!
- Mike
JB 1:45PM (5/15/2009)
High visibility graphics have a number of purposes... the least of which being of aesthetic nature.
The more visible the patrol car... the higher the deterrent factor, not to mention in the event of a pursuit or situation requiring attention the car is more highly visible to other motorists.
This makes it less likely for accidents to occur.
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