WA Police has announced a new addition to the fleet, with the plug-in hybrid Volkswagen Touareg R named as the vehicle of choice for the Rapid Apprehension Squad.
Western Australia Police has turned to the Volkswagen Touareg R as a new addition to its fleet of patrol vehicles.
An initial batch of 12 Touareg Rs will enter duty as unmarked ‘class-one’ patrol vehicles.
Rather than a trial program, the Touareg R will join as a fully-fledged member of the Rapid Apprehension Squad fleet, with the scope to participate in pursuit operations when required.
The selection process includes assessment in a variety of conditions, which includes dynamic situations with the additional weight of police equipment factored in.
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The Touareg isn’t the first Volkswagen Group vehicle to be selected for use in Western Australia. As with other states, the previous generation Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Superb also form part of the existing patrol fleet.
The Touareg R’s adoption by WA Police marks the first use of the vehicle among police fleets around Australia.
Other rapid response fleets include the BMW 5 530d and X5 in NSW, SA, and Victoria, and the BMW M340i in Tasmania.
At the time those fleet additions were announced, state traffic commander, Mike Bell said “Electric motor vehicles are the way of the future. We know we’ve got to head that way, so we know we’ve got to step into that space.”
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WA Police has run evaluation programs on fully electric vehicles, including the Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and has previously trialled a hydrogen fuel cell Toyota Mirai in 2022.
Rather than a fully-electric vehicle, the plug-in hybrid system of the Touraeg R allows a rated 51 kilometres of EV driving range, with the ability to use the 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine for continued mobility once the battery runs low.
The Touareg R produces a combined 340kW, and can sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds.
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In a statement released by WA Police, Commissioner Col Blanch said, “The Touareg R hybrid is a more fuel-efficient and cost-effective solution over the lifetime of the vehicle through reduced maintenance and downtime.
“WA Police are leading the country in its push to invest in modern equipment for its officers and these vehicles are another example of this.”
Although the RAS cars are unmarked, they feature additional emergency lighting for enhanced visibility and identification as an emergency services vehicle.
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