While some states have gone for more traditional successors to our rapid, locally built Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons - such as the Kia Stinger, BMW 5 Series and even the Subaru WRX - they’ve done things differently out in Western Australia.
Instead, the Western Australia Police Force has announced its latest vehicle fleet recruit: the Volkswagen Touareg R, a plug-in hybrid SUV with more power than our V8-powered Highway Patrol cars ever had.
“Following the decommissioning of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore, a comprehensive review was undertaken to identify an operationally suitable vehicle to withstand the demands of police emergency response driving,” the Western Australia Police Force said on social media.
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Contrary to the post, as well as other news reports, the Touareg R isn’t a turbo-diesel, despite the Touareg being available as an oiler. It’s powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, which is mated to an electric motor fed by a 14.3kWh battery.
With the battery and electric motor assisting, it can produce up to 340kW and 700Nm. That’s a lot more than the last Commodore SS-V’s 304kW 6.2-litre V8, and above even the 335kW output of Ford’s final supercharged XR8s.
Volkswagen claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds, and the Touareg R can drive for up to 51km on electric-only power, but when the battery is depleted its outputs drop to a still respectable 250kW and 450Nm. The circa-2.4 tonne SUV can be charged at up to 7.5kW.
For private buyers, prices start from $133,490 before on-road costs, though it’s not clear if Western Australia’s police fleet was able to get a bulk discount.
It’s not the first plug-in hybrid vehicle to serve in Australia, with Queensland Police previously adding a number of MG HS Plus EV SUVs to its fleet in 2023.
