Photo: BMW
The 5er needs no introduction, rewriting the rulebook in the premium mid-size sedan segment on seven occasions since the introduction of the E12 in 1972. With the G30 generation, BWM reached new heights with the 5 Series, and law enforcement agencies in Australia have grown to like the G30 generation.
But first, we need to talk about the cars the police uses in Australia. The Ford Falcon is already history, and with the imminent demise of Holden production in the Land Down Under, the Commodore is no longer relevant. What’s more, Toyota will pull the plug on the locally manufactured Camry sedan in October.
Given these circumstances, it’s no wonder the police has been testing various vehicles in the past few years, trialing them to find out if they’re sufficiently reliable and capable for active duty. Ford failed with the Mustang, Mercedes-AMG came up with the E43, but in the end, the BMW 5 Series won outright.
The Victoria Police and BMW Australia announced that 80 examples of the breed would join the force in 2018 as highway patrol cars, all of them specified in 530d attire. The reason the B57 3.0-liter inline-six turbo diesel was chosen over any other powerplant, despite the fact Dieselgate curbed the appeal of Satan's fuel, is the combination of efficiency and acceleration.
Sure the straight-six has only 265 metric ponies (195 kW) at its disposal, but the torque (620 Nm; 460 lb-ft) is available from low down in the rev range and it ensures the 530d hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds. Top speed? An electronically limited 250 km/h (155 mph) is more than adequate.
The cars acquired by Victoria Police present themselves in entry-level specification, and each is gifted with the mandatory police package and graphics. “Lauded by media and customers alike for its combination of performance, safety, and efficiency, the new BMW 5 Series range is a natural fit for police duty,” said BMW Australia head honcho Marc Werner.
Given these circumstances, it’s no wonder the police has been testing various vehicles in the past few years, trialing them to find out if they’re sufficiently reliable and capable for active duty. Ford failed with the Mustang, Mercedes-AMG came up with the E43, but in the end, the BMW 5 Series won outright.
The Victoria Police and BMW Australia announced that 80 examples of the breed would join the force in 2018 as highway patrol cars, all of them specified in 530d attire. The reason the B57 3.0-liter inline-six turbo diesel was chosen over any other powerplant, despite the fact Dieselgate curbed the appeal of Satan's fuel, is the combination of efficiency and acceleration.
Sure the straight-six has only 265 metric ponies (195 kW) at its disposal, but the torque (620 Nm; 460 lb-ft) is available from low down in the rev range and it ensures the 530d hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds. Top speed? An electronically limited 250 km/h (155 mph) is more than adequate.
The cars acquired by Victoria Police present themselves in entry-level specification, and each is gifted with the mandatory police package and graphics. “Lauded by media and customers alike for its combination of performance, safety, and efficiency, the new BMW 5 Series range is a natural fit for police duty,” said BMW Australia head honcho Marc Werner.
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