Silent Running: Opel Pushes Ampera As Cop Car
It’s not out yet, and it won’t be before the end of the year, but Opel is already flogging the Euro-version of the Volt, the Ampera, as the perfect cop car. Main selling point: It’s a veritable multi mission vehicle. “Whether emission free on patrol, or silent during undercover surveillance, or fast and persistent when in hot pursuit – the Opel Ampera is the ideal police cruiser,” brags Opel, which appears to humor AutoBild.
The paper grants the Ampera perseverance (500 km range), low emissions, and the ability “to silently sneak up to the scene of the crime.” But fast? “A top speed of 161 km/h may be not enough to keep up with the gangsters in their hot rodded escape vehicle.”
Be it as it may, “in the end, the matter will be doomed to failure by the price: €42,900 probably won’t be what the police wants to spend,” writes AutoBild. “That’s what a civilian has to plunk down when he wants to drive an Ampera.” $58,000 also would be a bit rich for an American police dept.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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The mascara is running.
You could only “to silently sneak up to the scene of the crime.” if it's the 1st call of the day - after that the batteries would be empty and that noisy engine would cut in. considering (in the UK at least) most cop cars have really high mileage - I can't think of a worse vehicle than an amped up volt
What do they mean, "emissions-free?" Those donuts gotta go somewhere.
The Polizei have always had a wide range of vehicles, from Opel Saloon cars, to full size Mercedes, Posches, Motorcycles and even VW vans. A Volt/Ampera would probably be more than adequate for most suburban patrols.