Photo: Seat
Wait, what happened to those sexy Alfa Romeo 159 police cars roaming the streets in Rome and other Italian cities?
As much as we'd like to have an answer to that question, we can't say for sure how the long-serving Alfas 159 ended their career. However, we can tell you that the Italian police force will rely on Seat Leon's services from now on.
That's because the Spanish carmaker has won the fleet contract to supply new Leon cars to the Italian police forces, Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police) and the Carabinieri.
All in all, the agreement includes the option for up to 4,000 vehicles over the next three years. So far, they have taken orders for 925 cars, split between 475 “panthers” for the Polizia di Stato and 450 “gazelles” for the Carabinieri.
Also, the first 206 vehicles have already started being handed over, with an initial 106 service vehicles being delivered to the Carabinieri and 100 to the Polizia di Stato.
But remember we're talking about police cars here. Therefore, the front end of the Leon and its doors are armoured against small arms fire. Also, each car is fitted with special safety tires. The service vehicle is rounded off by warning and alarm lights, radio and communications equipment plus weapons carriers while the back seat is also laid out as a secure prisoner cell.
Before the deal was closed, the cars were driven continuously for 30,000 kilometres, stopping only to refuel and relieve drivers. Also, their doors were opened and closed 100,000 times to test the quality of the vehicles.
That's because the Spanish carmaker has won the fleet contract to supply new Leon cars to the Italian police forces, Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police) and the Carabinieri.
All in all, the agreement includes the option for up to 4,000 vehicles over the next three years. So far, they have taken orders for 925 cars, split between 475 “panthers” for the Polizia di Stato and 450 “gazelles” for the Carabinieri.
Also, the first 206 vehicles have already started being handed over, with an initial 106 service vehicles being delivered to the Carabinieri and 100 to the Polizia di Stato.
The cars
The working model for the new Italian police cars is provided by the five-door Leon powered by a 150 horsepower 2.0-liter TDI engine.But remember we're talking about police cars here. Therefore, the front end of the Leon and its doors are armoured against small arms fire. Also, each car is fitted with special safety tires. The service vehicle is rounded off by warning and alarm lights, radio and communications equipment plus weapons carriers while the back seat is also laid out as a secure prisoner cell.
Before the deal was closed, the cars were driven continuously for 30,000 kilometres, stopping only to refuel and relieve drivers. Also, their doors were opened and closed 100,000 times to test the quality of the vehicles.
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