Kia Stinger Police Car Copping Attention
Most Australian state police forces trialling new rear-drive Korean sports sedanThe Kia Stinger is on the police radar.
Almost all Australian state and territory police forces are assessing the upcoming Kia Stinger as a potential replacement for their existing fleets of locally-built Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores.
The twin-turbo V6-powered Stinger GT is being examined for Highway Patrol use by some forces and the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder version of the rear-wheel drive five-door for general duty use by others.
Both versions of the car are being assessed by at least the New South Wales and Queensland police forces, Kia communications chief Kevin Hepworth told motoring.com.au at last week’s international drive launch of the flagship Stinger GT at the Nurburgring in Germany.
He said only Tasmania and the Northern Territory were not expressing interest in the Stinger at this stage.
Police force decisions on their future fleets are expected to start being made around the end of 2017. The Stinger GT goes on sale in Australia around September 1.
Police forces shape as a significant fleet market for the Stinger with the demise of the Falcon last October and the Commodore next October.
Kia has briefed the various forces about the Stinger and is rotating a couple of them through the various states for driving assessment.
“The Police interest is a spin-off which is more than we expected at the start,” said Hepworth. “They are looking for a particular skill set in a car and at first appearance this car provides that.”
Hepworth said there were several factors about the Stinger that appealed to the police, including the Brembo brake package fitted to all V6s, an easily upgradable wiring system, a sizable interior and strong performance figures.
Kia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty also appealed to the police, he said.
“Now they have to assess whether they can steer it or not,” said Hepworth.
Highway patrol Stingers would likely roll on 18-inch rubber because the police want to have spare tyres onboard. The 19-inch tyres used at the top of the range are staggered.
With strong private demand already apparent, Hepworth admitted that Kia wouldn’t be able to service all the police business if it won the fleet contract in every state where the car was being trialled.
“But they are going to have Commodores for the next couple of years and they are going to start rolling out of them,” he said.
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