Of course, these aren’t off-the-shelf Subies. The patrol cars are equipped with emergency lights, a dual-battery system, a gun mount with an electronic release, automatic license plate recognition software, advanced speed radar, and a light bar with a message board. police spec WRXs can also reach speeds of up to 155 mph. The top speed of a pedestrian-spec WRX is 134 mph per Car and driverOfficials said each police WRX will cost the Australian equivalent of about $45,000 USD ($70,000 AUD). A new WRX RS in Australia starts at about $38,000 USD ($58,534 AUD).
“This latest addition to the police’s arsenal of resources, designed by the police themselves, is another example of the police and the Lawler Labor government working together to reduce crime,” said Brent Potter, the police minister, in a statement. press release“These vehicles are designed with everything an officer needs to do their job efficiently and safely.”
The NT covers over half a million square miles, making it the third largest federal division in Australia. Even with the fleet update, it’s still a bit, er, territory to cover. But the area is sparsely populated. More than half the territory’s population lives in Darwin.
No additional information was provided about the WRX trim level or what engine or other technical changes have been made. The new WRXs will Kia Stitches and Volkswagen Passats, which are being retired from the high-performance fleet. The unit will total 29 vehicles when the Subies are added. The Stingers themselves replaced the then outgoing Holden Commodore SS. It makes you wonder what vehicles make up the other half of the police force. Maybe it’s a sensible hot hatch like the Hyundai i30N? Maybe.
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