Could this be NZ police new patrol car?
The 2021 Skoda Octavia RS is being used by the UK police. Photo: Skoda
The 2021 Skoda Octavia RS has been unveiled as a police pursuit vehicle in the UK and it could be a hint at what our thin blue line may be driving in New Zealand.
The fourth-generation sedan from Skoda will share its powertrain with the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, but comes as a liftback body with hot hatch performance.
It has a 2-litre, turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine that produces 180kW of power and 370Nm of torque, going from 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Skoda Octavia is a popular police vehicle in Europe, thanks to its rear seat space and on-road dynamics. The Czech car maker also offers the Octavia with a 'police pack' from the factory for approved buyers, with integrated beacon lights fitted around the car, together with a three-tone siren.
With the axing of production of the current patrol car, the Holden Commodore, the police force will need a new vehicle.
Chris Cahill, president of the New Zealand Police Association, said it was important for police to have ample boot space for equipment, and leg and head room for a variety of offenders and officers using a patrol car.
Police have been using Holden since late 1960, though Ford Falcons were also used as patrol cars in the 1970s and ‘80s.
There were 2866 Holden vehicles in the police fleet, making up 88 per cent of vehicles in their possession.
"The Falcon and the Commodore were the only two cars that could stand up to the 24-7 frontline driving that the cars require,” Cahill told Stuff.
"Reliability is incredibly important and Ford and Holden have been able to deliver it. In the past they tried some Toyotas, but they didn't withstand the internal robustness."
Due to vehicle sharing from shift to shift, patrol cars need to be able to run around the clock without breaks, which means electric vehicles are not an option.
The tender for the next police vehicle fleet closed on Friday, 14 August 2020 so we could expect to hear the outcome soon.
