<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ric Woodruff:
Christi, here in the states, the American automakers make police versions of standard cars that are called "police specials" which have higher horsepower engines, and I imagine better cooling systems and heavy duty transmissions.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
In the UK there are two main types of car used by the police:-
1. The traffic police pursuit cars.
These cars have uprated mechanical and electrical parts, with the most powerful engines, and are heavily maintained to provide safety in high speed chases etc.
These are used by the traffic police.
2. The utility cars, or "Panda" cars as we call them in the UK.
These are nothing more than an ordinary sedan (often an economy model, or even a diesel). These are used by the ordinary policeman to get from one place to another. In an emergency they will use the lights and sirens, and drive fast, but the cars are not specifically built for high speed use. The most serious mod is probably a hose-out, vomit proof plastic interior.
I'm sure that the same is true for police forces in other European countries. I would imagine that the Passat in the picture would definitely be in class "2", and therefore an ordinary 90bhp.
------------------
1996 Passat Tdi estate (wagon (variant))
See my Peugeot / Passat site
