Photo: Vauxhall
Vauxhall has signed one of the biggest fleet deals with the UK Police that will include the delivery of 2,000 vehicles, 1,200 of which will be all-new Astra units.
The deal spans over two years and also includes a few Corsa superminis, Insignia wagons, and British-built Vivaro vans. However, the Astra K will make up the bulk of the order.
If you commit a crime in Britain between now and 2017, there's a good chance you will be cuffed and placed in the back of one of these "arresting Astra" hatchbacks.
All cars will come equipped with features that us regular drivers like, including the OnStar technology that keeps the car connected via satellite and cellular networks. If you can somehow use your smartphone after being handcuffed, you may discover that the vehicle offers a high-speed 4G LTE mobile hub with connectivity for up to seven smartphones or tablets.
OnStar even includes a Police-spec ignition block, which can be triggered remotely in the event of a vehicle being stolen. Don't laugh, police patrol cars sometimes get stolen.
No spec details are available on these Astra patrol cars. However, we can clearly see that auxiliary lights have been installed. When the British police took delivery of the Jeep Renegade, it went for the smallest diesel engine with front-wheel-drive, so we suspect that the Vauxhall will get one of the 1.6 CDTi diesel engines.
"A vehicle purchasing collaboration between police forces and partners on this scale has never been seen before, and I am delighted to say that it has been a huge success regarding the savings made and how well the organizations have worked together. The success of this group builds on the achievements of a large scale vehicle procurement project led by West Yorkshire Police earlier in the year. While cost is clearly a driving factor, the most important aspect is that these vehicles need to be the safest ones available for our staff and the public," commented David Wilkin, West Midlands Police’s Director of Resources.
If you commit a crime in Britain between now and 2017, there's a good chance you will be cuffed and placed in the back of one of these "arresting Astra" hatchbacks.
All cars will come equipped with features that us regular drivers like, including the OnStar technology that keeps the car connected via satellite and cellular networks. If you can somehow use your smartphone after being handcuffed, you may discover that the vehicle offers a high-speed 4G LTE mobile hub with connectivity for up to seven smartphones or tablets.
OnStar even includes a Police-spec ignition block, which can be triggered remotely in the event of a vehicle being stolen. Don't laugh, police patrol cars sometimes get stolen.
No spec details are available on these Astra patrol cars. However, we can clearly see that auxiliary lights have been installed. When the British police took delivery of the Jeep Renegade, it went for the smallest diesel engine with front-wheel-drive, so we suspect that the Vauxhall will get one of the 1.6 CDTi diesel engines.
"A vehicle purchasing collaboration between police forces and partners on this scale has never been seen before, and I am delighted to say that it has been a huge success regarding the savings made and how well the organizations have worked together. The success of this group builds on the achievements of a large scale vehicle procurement project led by West Yorkshire Police earlier in the year. While cost is clearly a driving factor, the most important aspect is that these vehicles need to be the safest ones available for our staff and the public," commented David Wilkin, West Midlands Police’s Director of Resources.
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