Police testing Polestar-tuned Volvo

A Scandinavian scud missile is the latest vehicle to emerge as a potential replacement for traditional police cars from Holden and Ford, with a specially-developed high-performance Volvo sports sedan now under evaluation by the Australia Federal Police.

It's not quite the $100,000 S60 Polestar, which pumps out 258kW/500Nm, but the ACT-based federal police are testing a pumped-up S60 T6 with "Polestar Performance Optimisation" that boosts the 3.0-litre turbo-petrol engine to 245kW and 480Nm.

Polestar engine boffins say they optimised the all-wheel drive sedan's power band "for improved drivability". The Swedish cop car also gets the usual police livery, along with lights, sirens and communications equipment.

The federal police's decision to test the Volvo in the ACT represents a major shift that will take place across all Australian police forces in the next three years, as Ford and Holden stop manufacturing vehicles in this country.

While the Toyota Camry is also used for a wide range of police duties, the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore remain the staple diets of police pursuit car fleets nation-wide. But, as Australian Federal Police Station Sergeant Rod Anderson explains, the evaluation period starts now.

"We are particularly interested in our officers' opinions on the all-wheel drive capability of the S60 and what advantages it offers over our current rear-wheel drive fleet," said Anderson, in reference the current Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore police fleet.

"By doing this, we can obtain direct feedback on how the S60 performs from our officers who are out on the road, day and night, in all manner of driving conditions," said Anderson.

At present the go-fast Volvo will be employed in the ACT Policing Traffic Operations fleet, "where it will be required to perform to a high level in dynamic, high stress environments" says the department.

What car do you think would make an ideal police pursuit vehicle from 2017? Have your say in the comments below.