Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 for Italian Police

Police cars come in all shapes and sizes. In the US, it’s basically the massive Fords and GM Chevys that make up the tough line up of police patrol cars. Oil rich nations like Dubai and others have not only bull SUVs as part of their patrol but even some super rich ones like  Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Chevrolet Camaros, Mercedes-Benz AMGs, Bugattis, Nissan GT-Rs and McLarens doing duty.

In India, it’s the likes of Toyota Innovas for the local police, while the several top notch security agencies have cars from the stables of Mahinrdas (Scorpio) and Tata Motors (the Tata Safari does duty for the Prime Minister’s security).

Italian police has for long been having Italy-made police cars from the stables of Fiat and Alfa Romeos. In 2004, Lamborghini donated two Lamborghini Gallardo police cars to the police force,

Now, the latest to join the Italian police force is the Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia. Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, handed over the car to the head of the Italian State Police, Prefect Alessandro Pansa, in a ceremony in Rome at the ‘‘Museo delle Auto Storiche della Polizia di Stato’’.

The new Huracán LP 610-4, which replaces the Gallardos used by the Italian police force since 2004 and 2008, features a 5.2 l V10 engine with 610 hp, and reaches a top speed over 202 mph (325kmph). The new Lamborghini Huracán police car will begin service within the end of this year in order to sustain security on Italian roads by continuing accident and crime prevention.

‘‘We have a strong and fitting relationship with the Italian State Police. The new Lamborghini Huracán stands for Italian super sports car excellence and we are proud to provide it to the Italian State Police to carry out the specialist tasks these police cars undertake.’’ said Stephan Winkelmann in a press note issued by the company.

‘‘Today is an important day, since two Italian excellences meet and strengthen their relationship which started in 2004 with the handing over of the Lamborghini Gallardo to the Italian State Police. In the last ten years, the Italian State Police used the car for prevention purposes and in order to enhance street security,’’ said the Head of the Italian State Police, Prefect Alessandro Pansa while taking delivery of the new Lamborghini car.

Proof of outstanding reliability

Since 2004, Rome’s police force has operated the first-generation Gallardo in regular police service, with a further Gallardo run by Bologna’s police since 2005. Both were replaced in 2008 by second generation Gallardo models. In the hands of the Rome police the sports car clocked more than 140.000 km up until 2008, and more than 110.000 km between 2009 and 2014 during patrol duty on central and southern Italian motorways, as well as on emergency medical transport detail. Aside from regular servicing, neither of the super sports cars has required major repairs.

In addition to the clearly effective deterrent offered by the presence and visibility of a Lamborghini on the highway, the equipment on board these vehicles makes them highly effective in the control of hazardous driving behaviour (high speeds, driving in the emergency lane, dangerous overtaking); technologies include automatic number plate recognition and tracking, and real-time transmission of images to the control rooms.

The Huracán LP 610-4 comes with permanent all-wheel drive and refined new hybrid chassis made from aluminium and carbon fibre, which maintains stability even at the highest speeds.

The cabin of the super sports car is fitted with the latest advancements in police technology to immediately document evidence of any transgression. The video system is positioned in the centre of the cabin with a camera fitted next to the rear view mirror, and a computer and recording equipment behind the seats. As soon as police officers are alerted to a suspicious driver, they activate the ‘‘Proof Video Data System’’. With the help of GPS data, the device can calculate the location, direction of movement and speed of the Lamborghini. This, combined with the distance and time before intercept, accurately determines the speed of the vehicle being pursued.

Using radio data transmission, the video system in the Huracán Polizia transfers its images in real time to the relevant police station. There, the videos are stored and used for automatic number plate retrieval. This information can be used for immediate identification of stolen vehicles.

In addition to its high tech equipment, the Huracán is also fitted with the ‘‘classic’’ array of police equipment, such as a gun holster, police radio equipment and the ‘‘Paletta’’: the traditional hand-held stop sign used to advise motorists and traffic offenders to pull over. Officers can then use a removable screen to show offenders their misdeeds immediately, complete with an overlay of all the associated data.

The Lamborghini is used regularly for urgent medical transportation, too. The luggage compartment in the front of the vehicle is equipped with a specialised refrigeration system for safe transportation of donor organs. For extreme emergencies, there is also a life-saving defibrillator.

The police beacon on the roof of the Huracán had to be aerodynamically optimised as the new police car reaches a considerably higher top speed than regular service vehicles. With the extremely flat construction of the signal lighting, blue LEDs are fitted around the base to ensure the visual signal cannot be missed. The roof-mounted lighting is supported by further white LED signals on the front, sides and rear of the light’s aluminium shell. A total of four sirens integrated into the front and rear of the Huracán generate unmistakable audible warning signals.

Source: Lamborghini / Inputs: Motown India