Car: Brabus CLS V12 Rocket
Country: Germany
The Brabus Rocket is one of the fastest four-door cars in the world, though what the addition of 'blues and twos' roof lights does to its 225mph top speed is anyone's guess. This one's for promotion only, being used at tuner shows to encourage drivers to be safe and sensible with their tuned cars. We're not sure how a 730bhp twin-turbo V12 capable of mighty top speeds does that exactly, but who cares?
Car: Lamborghini Gallardo
Country: Italy
Perhaps the most famous of the cool cop cars is this Lamborghini Gallardo used by the Italian police. More than a mere show car this Gallardo is in regular use, both as a traffic vehicle and a rapid means of transporting donor organs. With over 500bhp and a 200mph top speed, try outrunning this police car at your peril.
Car: Jaguar XF
Country: UK
Once upon a time the crooks ran around in Jaguars, but the UK police fleet now has its own to catch them with. The svelte XF is a graceful addition to the UK's police fleet and is used by several forces. We can think of few better cars for patrolling our busy motorways in than this Battenberg-liveried fast cat.
Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
Country: UK
Boy racer respect and fear comes in the guise of this police specified Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Four-wheel drive, masses of grip, plentiful power and rally-derived electronic stability and traction systems mean there's little on the road that will shake off this mighty police car. When they say pull over you'd better do as you're told.
Car: Honda NSX
Country: UK promotion
The UK police often borrow high-performance cars for promotional uses, which explains this police-liveried Honda NSX. The Japanese supercar has a bit of a cult following and can attribute its tremendous dynamics to F1 legend Ayrton Senna. Hardly surprising then that the police officer who borrowed this NSX for a car show didn't want to give it back.
Car: Caparo T1
Country: UK
The boys in blue might need race suits and helmets for this wild cop car. The Caparo is among the fastest cars in the world, which meant it was ripe for the reflective Battenberg and flashing lights treatment. A bit out of most forces' budget, the Caparo would be the perfect car to police an F1 race perhaps.
Car: Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Country: UK
Not to be outdone by their rivals at Lamborghini, Ferrari UK gave a 612 Scaglietti the police look and handed over the keys to the cops. Used as an escort vehicle during Ferrari's 60-year celebrations, the 612 Scaglietti makes for a surprisingly useful police car, with the seats in the back able to accommodate crooks and the boot big enough for traffic cones, too.
Car: Lexus IS F
Country: UK
Humberside police roll in Lexus, and no ordinary ones at that. They've got IS Fs, Lexus' M3-rivalling performance saloon. Bright white with the old-school jam-sandwich livery, we love the look of these police cars - though we imagine the traffic cops like them for other reasons. Like the 5.0-litre V8 and 417bhp, perhaps?
Car: Dodge Charger
Country: USA/Mexico
The Dodge Charger exudes menace in regular guise, but fitting some roof lights, stripes and bumper bars only adds to its toughness. American and Mexican cops love them, not only for those assertive looks, but the promise of plenty of power from mighty V8 engines.
Car: Porsche Panamera
Country: UK
Porsche 911s might be all well and good, but it'd be criminal squeezing baddies into the back seats. Which is why this Panamera appeals, with all the performance you could want and seats in the rear for the crooks. This one was created for promotional reasons, but I'll bet there's not a traffic cop out there who wouldn't trade their Volvo V70 keys for this in a heartbeat.
Car: Lotus Exige
Country: UK
We love the Exige, and even more so when in this fantastic livery, but we're not so sure it's particularly useful as a police car. Sure, it'll catch anything on the road, but once you've apprehended the baddies they'll be off on foot before you're able to extract yourself from the notoriously tight interior. Still, as cool patrol cars go we rather like it.
Car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Country: UK
Okay, so it's not fast, but if green cars are cool then by default this electric Mitsubishi cop car is a cool police machine. Perfect for town policing, the i-MiEV can glide silently up behind criminals without them even noticing. Just don't expect it to be much good in a car chase, as its limited range means the batteries will run out of charge well before the desperados have given up fleeing.
Car: Carbon Motors E7
Country: USA
Cool as all the previous cop cars are they're all regular examples adapted for police use. This Carbon Motors E7 is designed specifically for 'law enforcement', with integrated roof lights, push bumpers, 75mph rear crash capability, integrated shotgun mounts and video and audio surveillance of the rear passenger compartment. It looks great, too.
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