Volkswagen wins Victoria Police highway patrol contract

The Victorian Police will soon be hitting the roads in turbocharged, all-wheel drive versions of the Volkswagen Passat wagon.

The German car-maker has just extended its contract with VicPol to supply a handful of Passat 206TSI wagons for the state’s highway patrol fleet, carsales.com.au can confirm.

Armed with a 206kW/350Nm turbo-petrol four-cylinder, each can be deployed to 100km/h from rest in 5.7 seconds. In civilian form, a similar car retails for $62,290 (plus on-road costs).

The appointment of 15 specially adapted Passat 206TSI ‘Proline wagons comes as an extension of Volkswagen’s existing supply deal to VicPol, which mostly comprises lesser-powered Passat 132 TSI Proline sedans and wagons (pictured).

“Including 202 vehicles delivered since 2016, VicPol’s Volkswagen fleet will grow to 467 vehicles,” the car-maker says.

“Proline is the designation given to the Passat and future emergency services models that Volkswagen Group Australia is developing, including the Tiguan Allspace 162 Proline.”

The appointment of Passat wagons marks yet another change in direction for Victorian Police – and for that matter, each state and territory – in the wake of the Holden and Ford's respective manufacturing shutdowns.

Once the domain of the Holden Commodore SS and Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo/XR8, Australian highway patrol fleets now include the BMW 530d, Kia Stinger and Chrysler 300C.

Volkswagen worked with its R&D team in Wolfsburg, Germany, along with Australian suppliers in order to adapt the Passat to VicPol requirements. Work included an upgraded alternator to assist with running on-board equipment and a bespoke wiring loom.

Volkswagen Australia passenger vehicle sales manager, Ben Wilks, said the highway contract was a major coup.

“Globally the Passat has been Volkswagen’s best-selling model line, but there can be no greater recognition than its acceptance by VicPol,” he said.

“Volkswagen Group Australia is honoured that our cars have been deemed worthy for use by the men and women who serve and protect the citizens of Victoria.”