Local Aussie Authorities Voice Concerns Over A Future Minus The RWD Commodore
2
Sponsored Links
The death of the Holden Commodore as we know it is having major repercussions across vast industries. The Australian government is without an estate vehicle, and now local highway patrol are starting to voice concerns over what will replace both the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon patrol vehicles.
Currently, the Commodore is quite possibly the most popular patrol vehicle because of its high performance and tremendous braking capabilities. In fact, Australian forces cite the Commodore’s braking capabilities as one of the best things about the patrol vehicle, according to CarsGuide.
Both Ford and Holden have fitted their patrol vehicles with heavy-duty, high-performance brakes ever since a series of brake failures brought the issue to light ten years ago. Following the failures, a stringent pursuit test was implemented for patrol vehicles.
“Before we had bigger brakes fitted to our cars, they would turn to mush after a few hard stops, the brake pads would eventually disintegrate,” said one high-ranking officer with 20 years’ experience.
“Ever since we had the better brakes fitted, it has enabled us to slow down through intersections more safely and more reliably … and then accelerate again to catch up to the bad guys. It’s a public safety issue as well as an officer-safety issue,” he added.
Foreign automakers have lined up to bid on patrol vehicle contracts for departments across Australia, namely, Audi, BMW and Volvo. The issue is of how expensive those vehicles will be. Other more traditional options include the Ford Mustang, Chrysler 300 and the Volkswagen Golf wagon, each costing around $50,000 60 $60,000 AUD. Currently, Holden and Ford patrol vehicles cost departments around $48,000 after government incentives.
A more relevant topic for the United States breaches this subject, too: what will Chevrolet do after the Caprice is long gone? Only time will tell.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
What’s left of holden will probably have a role in developing the pursuit rated versions of the P2xx Impala and X1xx Traverse. The trick will be getting GM to make a LHD version in China
What are they worried about! They’ve banned Police pursuits pretty much Australia wide. (ie. They don’t chase “bad guys” anymore) As long as the handbrake works OK and they don’t roll away from their speed camera positions, that’s all that’s important really! My God, they can do that in a Toyota Corolla!