Mustang Back on NSW Police Radar....

csv8 · 28-09-2016, 12:21 AM

"The NSW Police Force hasn’t given up on securing the Ford Mustang GT as a highway patrol vehicle, despite running into several hurdles with the US-built rear-wheel-drive V8.

The team of officers responsible for sourcing the next generation of highway patrol cars have been conducting extensive testing to resolve a peculiar technical issue that was revealed during preliminary runs at the force’s Goulburn test centre.

Calibration issues with the V8-powered Mustang’s gearbox temperature sensors prevented the car from completing a crucial set of rigorous braking tests, with a Melbourne-based firm drafted in to create a fix.

Additional heat shielding and bespoke software have been added to the police-liveried Mustang GT, which was tested at Sydney Motorsport Park this week where this exclusive pic was snapped.

While no one involved in the testing was prepared to comment on whether the Mustang would actually join the NSW Highway Patrol fleet, time is running out for replacement cars to be sourced.

The Ford Falcon XR8 is all but at the end of its production life, while the Holden Commodore SS will go off sale towards the end of next year.

A lack of obvious replacements is another factor, with a highway car’s specific set of requirements – namely an automatic transmission and high-performance brakes – ruling out many likely candidates, including the Subaru WRX.

The last time NSW Police used the WRX in 2001 ended in ignominy, when it was revealed the 20 vehicles converted into Highway Patrol cars had never had their speedometers correctly calibrated, rendering them legally unable to issue speeding infringements.

Other vehicles that have been trialled by various regional NSW command regions in the past decade include the Chrysler 300C and Volvo’s S60 Polestar.

Other cars that are allegedly under consideration for Highway Patrol duty from next year include the Mercedes-AMG C63, with an AMG-spec GLE63 already on loan to Victorian Police."
http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news...n=ob_editorial

b0son · 28-09-2016, 12:25 AM

A fair choice, they wont need any back seats as no real policing will be done....

malazn mafia · 28-09-2016, 12:50 AM

Pfft why does the highway patrol need these anyway? Put them all in Landcruisers, Hiluxes and Camry Hybrids. These are sufficient for travelling to the scene of a crash, forming a roadblock, or launching spike strips which are the duties of the modern highway patrol anyway... Put the Mustangs in city patrol where those extra seconds shaved off a journey could actually save a life, doing real police work like responding to a shooting or a bank robbery.

**GasoLane** · 28-09-2016, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Put them all in Landcruisers, Hiluxes and Camry Hybrids.

So if they clock someone doing say, 140kmh going in the opposite direction they can stop, turn around and give chase in one of these?

**Ratmick** · 28-09-2016, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

So if they clock someone doing say, 140kmh going in the opposite direction they can stop, turn around and give chase in one of these?

Depends if 'chase' means 'catch up to in a timely manner'

We might have to redefine 'chase' to mean 'proceed in the same general direction while being directed from the air by a guy sitting in a bunker viewing the action from an unmanned drone with a tv camera'.

I would have thought there'd be no end of cars that would be able to catch up with Joe (Off My Head on) Blow in a clapped-out VN Commodore doing a runner, even the Focus RS would catch it. If the guy is in a Lambo or a Ferrari then you'd be screwed in anything bar a chopper anyway

malazn mafia · 28-09-2016, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

So if they clock someone doing say, 140kmh going in the opposite direction they can stop, turn around and give chase in one of these?

Yep that's the go. Any modern junk box Hyundai, Kia or Toyota can clock 200kph down a straight highway and catch up, and even if they can't, Joe blow doing 140kmh in the opposite direction is likely no harm to anyone but himself, but rather a good source of state revenue. And if there really is a good reason to stop Joe, such as he is on the run from doing a bank robbery, a set of Landcruisers lined up down the highway will put him out of action quickly enough. The real place performance and handling are needed is suburbia. Cornering, steering and braking can make all the difference to whether that burglar gets away down that back alley, or the shooting victim bleeds to death or not.

snowcone · 28-09-2016, 12:50 PM

What policing are we talking about?
The Bill couldn't give a rat's about local policing.
The big money is in the road revenue.
Have a break-in and you will wait until a station officer is free and then you will wait another 12 hours for any forensics to turn up.
But drive around the corner and you will find a whole tribe of "officers" manning a breathtest station.
How much do you need to spend on a car that will spend most of it's life hiding behind a roadside sign?

mike_nofx · 28-09-2016, 01:20 PM

Why Landcruisers? They cost a lot more than a Mustang. Bang for buck you wont beat a Mustang for highway patrol duties.

Vesper Martini · 28-09-2016, 01:30 PM

Just go AWD like the Americans
https://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/

Tickford. · 28-09-2016, 05:35 PM

Posted over a month ago...

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...1449385&page=6

Blue Roo · 29-09-2016, 07:09 PM

In one part Florida. The Highway Patrol use a highly modified Chevy Corvette that was seized by cop's in a drug raid. From what I have seen on you tube. The Corvette is very quick.

Moby Vic · 14-10-2016, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Roo

In one part Florida. The Highway Patrol use a highly modified Chevy Corvette that was seized by cop's in a drug raid. From what I have seen on you tube. The Corvette is very quick.

I doubt that's a marked unit if they use it for anything other than promotion. My county used to have unmarked S197 Mustang GTs for street racing enforcement.

Drug seizure vehicles tend to be used as unmarked vehicles for speed enforcement.

AussieCJ7 · 14-10-2016, 08:46 AM

From what I have heard the gearbox tune is wowful, holding the wrong gear too long and too slow to react, the comment I heard was the the Falcon ZF tune was pretty damn good how could the same company get it so wrong with the Mustang. I believe Ford engineers are working with them to address, with any luck their work will go into all future stangs

commodorenutt · 14-10-2016, 09:26 AM

I've heard from several cops I know that the Falcon ZF is very highly regarded in HWP, so it will be a tough ask for anything to live up to that standard.

malazn mafia · 14-10-2016, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

I've heard from several cops I know that the Falcon ZF is very highly regarded in HWP, so it will be a tough ask for anything to live up to that standard.

Better lock those ZF turbo Falcons away, looks like they will be the future weapon of choice for a bank robbery, driveby, getaway car

TheInterceptor · 14-10-2016, 10:57 PM

I visited Sydney two weeks ago. Awesome place to drive as they don't have hidden speed cameras in the bushes like they do here in WA. Seeing police out and about was actually really cool. But no matter what they drive, they will still book you even if they can't chase. They're all fitted with super flash camera wizardry and they'll catch up with you at home anyway.

Pedro · 14-10-2016, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

So if they clock someone doing say, 140kmh going in the opposite direction they can stop, turn around and give chase in one of these?

In Qld they're virtually not allowed to chase anymore but the roll out of number plate recognition cameras is gathering pace, so your 140kph driver will probably have a hefty fine in the mail next day.

**X-AHH** · 14-10-2016, 11:48 PM

Give em a Prius with a bigger battery so they can out run the other eco friendly cars