ROME – A supercar to challenge criminals in pursuit. Rome Flying Squad leaders had the idea in the early 1960s. The then brigadier and then marshal Armando Spatafora, who in that period found himself on the streets fighting with the capital’s gangs of thieves and robbers who used large displacement cars in their criminal undertakings, was equipped with a Ferrari for emergency operations.
More precisely, the 250 GTE, chassis 3999, which was donated to the police for this occasion by the Maranello company and because of which Spatafora got the nickname “policeman with a Ferrari”.
Today, not only in Italy but all over the world, there are various law enforcement agencies that use one or more high-performance cars in their fleet, often driven by specially trained drivers, some of whom are capable of doing their best not only on asphalt but even off the road.
So let’s see what are the 10 most powerful supercars with flashing lights right now, starting with another Ferrari that, despite being a few years old, has a unique story to tell: namely the 458 Spider entrusted to the local police in Milan.
Ferrari 458 Spider (Italy)
Seized in 2015 by members of the Camorra, the “discovery” of Maranello was entrusted to the local police in Milan, who carried out an inspection and re-registration of the car at their own expense, turning to the Marazzi workshop in Caronno for interior and exterior fittings (paints and mandatory equipment). It is a model that Ferrari produced from 2011 to 2015, in the development of which multiple Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher participated directly as a consultant. It features a 4.5-liter V8 engine, with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which delivers 570 hp and is capable of exceeding 325 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 in just 3.4 seconds. The frame is made of aluminum alloy, made with technologies derived from aviation, connected to a folding front suspension with cross arms and a multilink on the rear axle. While the on-board electronics include a single Magneti Marelli control unit, combined with a lever derived from Ferrari’s Formula 1, which allows you to operate on and off the E-Diff (electronic differential), F1-Trac (traction system) and ‘ Abs
W Motors Ghiath Smart Patrol (Dubai)
This is an SUV specially built by Lebanon’s W Motors Ghiath to the order of the Dubai Police who ordered 400 units. Based on the Nissan Armada off-road vehicle, the Japanese company’s model sold in the US, it uses 4X4 mechanics that can push it anywhere along with a V8 petrol engine with around 400 horsepower and 560 Nm. Among the equipment, the Ghiath Smart Patrol includes 360° external surveillance with 8 cameras, as well as a device for recognizing faces and license plates, and even an integrated ready-to-fly drone for carrying out patrols from above.
Tesla model
Among the various supercars supplied to the police, there is no shortage of electric cars. For example, the Polstrada di Venezia just had a Tesla model. It will enter service in January next year and it is a real fireball with zero emissions that reaches a top speed of 262 km/h and reaches 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds. It is powered by a 95 kWh battery that can guarantee up to 543 km of autonomy, requiring only 15 minutes of charging from the Tesla Supercharger network to accumulate enough energy for 282 km.
BAC Mono (Isle of Man)
Built by British car manufacturer Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) for the Isle of Man Police, the Mono is currently the world’s only single-seater in “uniform”. Weighing just 584kg, it uses a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder Montune engine under a carbon and fiberglass body, connected to the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission, which puts out 305bhp and tops out at 270 on the hour, reaching 100 in less than 3 seconds. This car also has a brake system with carbon-ceramic discs and can count on Formula 1 electronics that give the driver maximum freedom and enable all kinds of maneuvers in fast chases.
Alpine A110 (France)
The French National Gendarmerie has chosen a berlinetta from Renault’s high-performance brand for road and highway patrols, following a tradition that saw the first edition of the same car from Dieppe wear the overseas police uniform from 1966 to 1973. The extreme lightness (just over 1,100 kg) and the power of its engine (252 HP) are the strong points of the model that accelerates from 0 to 100 in 4.5 seconds and which can push the needle of the speedometer up to 250 km/h. The car was specially built by the specialist company Durisotti from Sallaumines (FR), which produced a total of 26 units.
Lykan Hypersport (Abu Dhabi)
The gendarmes of Abu Dhabi have a number of above-average cars in their fleet. One of them is the hypercar Lykan Hypersport, which was made by W Motors, a car manufacturer of Lebanese origin, but based in Dubai, in only 7 units sold at a starting price of 3.5 million dollars. A very exclusive and very expensive car, also known for being part of the cast of Fast & Furiosa 7, is equipped with a 6-cylinder twin-turbo boxer of Porsche origin, developed by experts Rufo, which develops 770 hp for acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds and a maximum speed close to 400 km/h. Definitely record numbers considering that before the purchase the Abu Dhabi Police themselves saw fit to do some driving tests to make sure they could handle a car like this on normal roads.
Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 (Italy)
Not only Ferrari, the Italian police are also very fond of Lamborghini. Among the various cars from Sant’Agata Bolognese with white and blue colors is the Huracan LP610-4, which is used for patrolling, but also for the urgent transport of organs intended for transplantation. Equipped with a 5.2-liter V10 engine with 610 horsepower, combined with all-wheel drive and a robotized dual-clutch transmission, this Lambo in Pantera guise accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 325 km/h. As part of its equipment, it uses the Provida system, which enables, through a video camera and a computer connected to the police database, the detection of speed and license plates of vehicles in traffic.
Ford Mustang Mach-E (USA)
The NYPD also recently added an electric model to its high-performance fleet. This is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the SUV version of the famous zero-emission muscle car, commissioned by the Dearborn company with specific NYPD colors for 100 examples in the GT version. That is, the most powerful in the range with 2 electric motors, all-wheel drive and a battery of 500 km, powered by 358 kW (487 hp) which enables acceleration from 0 to 100 in 3″7 and a maximum speed limited to 200 km / h.
Audi R8 (Portugal)
This Audi R8, which belongs to the Police de Segurança Pública of Portugal, has a similar history to the Ferrari 458 Spider in force with the Milan police. Like the Cavallino sports car, it was actually confiscated from criminals and then listed after being customized by Portuguese trainer STROB. Based on the Lamborghini Huracan, the German uses a 570 hp naturally aspirated V10 engine, with a dual-clutch transmission and permanent all-wheel drive, which can accelerate it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and then reach a top speed of 324 km/h. Features include an aluminum and carbon fiber body, as well as a racing suspension architecture with electronically controlled suspension.
Mercedes AMG GLE 53 S (Australia)
Under the police force of the state of Victoria in Australia, this special version of the Mercedes AMG GLE 53 S coupé has been renamed “Guardian”. And it is not surprising since it is used to increase road safety by relying on its performance on the track. It’s powered by a powerful 5.5-liter V8 that delivers 585 horsepower to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
