A few weeks ago, we told you how students at a University in Dubai came to school in flashy cars. Now, Dubai’s cops seem to be catching up too. The latest version of the emirates police fleet is so impressive, people on the streets are begging to be arrested and taken for a ride. Civilians actually stop to click photographs as the police cars pass by.
The latest addition to the fleet is a state-of-the-art, US $280,000 McLaren MP4-12C. It joins the Dubai police’s garage of the world’s most expensive patrol cars – a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin, a Bentley, a Ferrari and a Chevrolet. All of these cars can comfortably exceed 190 miles per hour. They are almost impossible to outrun.
Road accidents are a common cause of death in the UAE; one person is killed in traffic every 26 hours. Most deaths are caused by speeding, driving while using mobile phones and driving without a seat-belt. Early last year, Dubai police released a government outlined specification stressing on the necessity of a fleet of top-of-the-range supercars to restore order on the city streets.
Officers need to take a compulsory driving course before they can get their pick off the fleet. Mariam Ahmed, a cop who personally owns a Toyota Land Cruiser, chose a Ferrari FF to patrol the streets. “It’s the first time I’ve driven a sports car,” she said. “When they chose me, I couldn’t believe it. Driving is just amazing. I miss the car off-duty. My Land Cruiser does not compare.”
Interestingly, ever since the supercar fleet was introduced, speeding drivers have been pleading policemen to detain and escort them to the station in these cars. “It’s funny because we hear people begging us to arrest them for any reason so they can have a tour in the Ferrari,” Mariam said.
Another impressive supercar in the fleet is the limited-edition 217 mph Lamborghini Aventador (celebrating the firm’s 50th anniversary). 25-year-old Khalifa Abdullah Mohammed drives one of these. “I have issued about 30 tickets to drivers blocking the traffic and parking in prohibited places. The most amazing thing about driving such a car is how people look at you with a big smile.” he said. Dubai police also took on 50 Kia Mohaves last year, 35 of which were marked as patrol cars.
The custom-made McLaren won ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Supercar’ at the Middle East Motor Awards this year. It weighs almost the same as a small Citroen, but is three times more powerful than British patrol cars.
The MP4-12C has a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre engine that generates three times the power of the British panda car. It can accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour in just 3.1 seconds. The carbon fiber body contributes to its light weight. It only weighs 1,306 kilograms, quite below the industry average of 1,500 to 1,700 kilograms. It also carries a ‘2020’ number plate, to commemorate Dubai’s successful World Expo 2020 bid.
I think it’s great that the government of Dubai empowers its cops with the latest in automotive technology. Don’t forget to watch the video of these cops with their fleet of supercars. It is really impressive! Too bad they can’t cross the speed-limit, though.
via Daily Mail, Emirates 24/7
