FEATURE The U.K. Police Fleet EXPO Also on display were models from the latest range of cars and
light commercials including the stealth crime fighter, its new high-performance electric Ampera bidding to convert forward- thinking police chiefs to “hybrid” power that still comes at a cost—in Vauxhall’s case some $55,000. Another car now no longer just a concept is the new Insig-
nia armored hatchback, which joins the good-looking Insignia range. Meanwhile, a wide range of light commercials ranging from the Vivaro prison cell van to dog vans and impressive pro- tected support units make up the company’s offering.
Hyundai is rapidly gaining market share among U.K. police fl eets.
VOLVO Volvo is now a 100-percent Chinese company—not that you would notice. The current range still bears all the hallmarks of its Swedish design and the good-looking V60 “Emergency Spec- ification” model, which made its bow at the event and shows the firm has not lost its touch, joining its accomplished V50 and V70 models in diesel guise.
VW AUDI The rise of the VW Audi (VAG) group continues thanks to con- tinued evolution and development of its various marques, which include Audi, SEAT, Skoda and VW, its variety of models all suited to a wide range of roles. Audi, for instance, is becoming the mainstay of a small num-
ber of road policing units with its A4 saloon and estate models (exclusively diesel powered) featuring the acclaimed Quattro drivetrain. SEAT will soon be promoting its new Leon and re- cently introduced Toledo to police fleets. The former is based on the latest generation Golf and the latter on the new Skoda Rapid and Audi A3 saloon. Its talented Alhambra continues its good reputation as a spacious, flexible, well-performing and well-made MPV. Skoda, meanwhile, will soon have a desirable new Octavia
vRS range on offer for Emergency 999 work supplementing the Rapid hatch and Yeti. The vRS promises to be the fastest Oc- tavia ever and sure to bring in more orders as fleet managers “Czech” it out over the coming months. The Expo and Conference draws police fleet managers from a
dozen countries, including the U.S., for fleet management and fleet maintenance solutions from a different perspective. The 2014 NAPFM conference will be held in early-June in Telford, Shropshire, U.K.
Roger Blaxall is a former police press officer with the Greater Manchester Police and the Lancashire Constabulary in North England. He now writes on the emergency services with particular reference to police vehicles for magazines in the U.S. and Europe.
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