Vauxhall reveals Ampera police car
Vauxhall has revealed the UK's first ever police car powered by electric power after converting a new Ampera into a car for use on the force.
The Vauxhall Ampera, an extended-range electric vehicle using a mix of electric and more traditional petrol power, will not be appearing on the beat any time soon, but Vauxhall has put forward a possible launch date of 2015 for police car versions of the model.
The design of the Vauxhall Ampera police car includes some unique upgrades including external-mounted cameras with facial recognition linked to the Police National Database.
It also includes police livery, the traditional blue lights, number plate recognition and an in-car screen allowing the passenger to access police databases on the move.
Vauxhall is one of the largest supplier of fleet cars to police forces in the UK. The likes of the Vauxhall Corsa, Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Insignia all appear on police fleets across the country.
Meanwhile, standard versions of the Vauxhall Ampera will go on sale in the UK in May. Orders are now open for the five-door hatchback with three trim levels available.
Only two of these, starting from £32,000, will be available from launch with an entry-level £29,000 version of the car arriving later in the year.
Based on the same platform as the Vauxhall Astra, the Ampera is capable of travelling 40 miles on electric power only and can be charged like any other electric car.
However, it also boasts a small petrol engine designed to charge the battery on the move and extend the range by a further 310 miles.
The new Vauxhall Ampera seats four and comes with a more upmarket interior than the other hatchback in the Vauxhall range, the Vauxhall Astra.
The first models can be ordered now.