SA Police choose new Holden Commodore

Sales of the new German-built Holden Commodore are as saggy as a flat tyre, but in a minor victory for the struggling car brand the Commodore will be pressed into active duty with South Australia Police.

Holden will supply around 100 new ZB Holden Commodore RS V6 models to the South Australia Police as part of a three-month trial, continuing a 70-year tradition of South Australia Police vehicles wearing Holden badges.

For private customers, the 235kW/381Nm Commodore RS V6 costs $40,790, although the police force are likely to negotiate a much sweeter deal if it decides to continue the trial beyond the initial phase.

The Commodores are equipped with a nine-speed automatic gearbox that works with an all-wheel drive system and should be able to match the VXR models' 6.2sec 0-100km/h sprint times – and possibly go faster if the police modify the cars' ECUs.

Given its performance bent, the Commodore RS V6 is likely to become SA Police's highway pursuit vehicle, while the Kia Sorento that joined the fleet in January 2018 will act as its general duties vehicle.

The black, silver and white Holden Commodores are covered in police livery and fitted with sirens, flashing LED police lights and advanced communication components.

South Australia's Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Harvey unveiled the cars in Adelaide yesterday and stated the vehicles would be in operation for at least three months as part of the trial and although he wouldn’t say whether the deal will be extended long-term, it's highly likely.

Although the South Australian fleet is much smaller than east coast states, the ZB Holden Commodore joins the Kia Stinger (Queensland Police), BMW 5 Series and Chrysler 300 (New South Wales Police) and BMW 5 Series (Victoria Police) as police fleets across the nation diversify following the cessation of local car manufacturing.

Although SA Police's senior command says only a three-month trial has been initiated at this stage, Holden released a press statement that reads: "The new ZB Commodores will be gradually deployed as part of a South Australian fleet upgrade over the next two years."

Holden's director of sales, Peter Keley, said the local calibration the German-made Opel Insignia cars undergo to become Holden Commodores will serve the police well.

"Our Holden engineers know what Australian drivers – and police officers – expect from driving a Commodore and this vehicle delivers.

"We're proud to see the new Commodore wearing the South Australian Police livery and look forward to seeing it in action on roads across South Australia.

"I’m sure members of the SA Police will enjoy driving it as much as we do," said Keley.

Do you think the new Holden Commodore is best suited for Australian police or are the BMW, Kia and Chrysler offerings more fitting? Have you say in the comments below.