While we recognize that American roads are quite different from those in the U.K., we also believe that a more modern vehicle could serve our police just as well as their standard-fare Crown Vic. It's worked out pretty well for taxi drivers so far.
[Source: Mitsubishi] Press Release:
NEW MITSUBISHI LANCER'S 'CLASS 1' METROPOLITAN POLICE PERFORMANCE, BRAKE AND HANDLING TEST
- London's Metropolitan Police put the new Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 DI-D GS4 through it's paces
- Lancer achieves a Class 1 Pass for performance, brake pad wear, handling and localised component durability
The new Mitsubishi Lancer was recently rigorously put through its paces by some of the Metropolitan Police's top test drivers at the Millbrook Proving Grounds, Bedfordshire as it was evaluated for potential police use on the UK's streets.
The Metropolitan Police, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 litre DI-D GS4, carried out a number of performance, handling and brake tests in order to evaluate the suitability of the vehicle.
On a damp and overcast day, the Metropolitan Police pushed the Mitsubishi Lancer to the limits, with a full tank of fuel and loaded to maximum gross vehicle weight.
Speed & Acceleration Tests
Speed tests found the Lancer's 0 to 30 mph acceleration time to be 4.45 seconds, going on to achieve an impressive terminal speed of 125.3 mph. The Lancer was able to achieve and maintain this speed in a highly stable condition, even at maximum gross vehicle weight.
Handling Tests
On the handling track, the Lancer was driven to speeds where the expert driver felt the vehicle was at its handling limits.
Compared with the previous Mitsubishi Lancer, the new Lancer was found to be "vastly improved", giving the driver "a firm ride from the low profile tires fitted as standard to the GS4 model range". Steering was "light and responsive" commented the driver, whilst braking on and through a bend caused little effect to the overall handling performance of the car.
Brake Tests
Finally, the new Lancer successfully completed the 50-stop brake test, where fifty 0.5G stops are made as quickly as possible from 50 mph to 0 mph in neutral.
The Lancer completed this incredibly tough test in just 13 minutes, 59 seconds, reaching a maximum brake disc temperature of 746 Celsius. This test resulted in the Lancer achieving a Metropolitan Police Service, Class 1 Pass for brake pad wear and localised component durability.
An Impressive Conclusion
Overall, the new Lancer gave an improvement in internal space for both driver and passengers, front and rear, without compromising the external dimensions of the vehicle. The dash board layout was described as "ergonomically designed, allowing good sighting of various types of police equipment" and the boot area was found to be "generous, allowing space for the fitment of additional equipment used by the police force".
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