Australian police chase bad guys in Prius
Police in New South Wales, Australia, are restructuring their motor pool to introduce more environmentally friendly vehicles. About 20 Toyota Prius sedans and 10 Honda Civic hybrids will be in the fleet by early next year. The move comes after a 2-year trial in which crime-scene investigators drove a Prius. Officials say the hybrids will be used for non-urgent duties. One official said his fuel bill was reduced by two-thirds while driving a Prius. Police cars with V8 or turbocharged engines will still be used in highway patrol vehicles. Said one official: "It's about getting the right car for the right role."
One last thought: Just think of how much further 'Mad' Max Rockatansky could have driven if he was behind the wheel of a Prius instead of that supercharged Ford Falcon.
[Source: Joshua Dowling / Sidney Morning Herald]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Glenn 3:55PM (11/22/2006)
Why not use Prius cars as pursuit vehicles?
0-60 is about 1 second behind the Ford Crown Vic with police package.
Interior room is nearly identical believe it or not.
Top speed is 106 compared to 121 or so for the Ford, but most jurisdictions disallow high-speed chases now anyway.
Besides, how do you outrun MOTOROLA?
We taxpayers need to start demanding our governments stop pissing away so much money on gas so cops can get to the donut shop 1/20th of a second faster.
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Dane Muldoon 4:33PM (11/22/2006)
The Australian police forces use a very wide range of vehicles from different manufacturers - Holden, Ford, Toyota, Mercedes, Honda to name a few.
It is great that they're moving towards fuel efficient vehicles for regular duties but I can't see the highway patrol team giving up their 270kW 6.0 litre V8s any time soon!
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MikeW 5:25PM (11/22/2006)
Maybe if the cops were required to fill the tanks.
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Andy 11:57PM (11/22/2006)
106...sad.
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