The new Skoda Superb police car sparked plenty of online debate, with thousands of you suggesting what New Zealand Police should be driving instead. So we sat down with Police acting national fleet manager Leighton Hamlin to find out how the frontline patrol car actually gets chosen, and to run your suggestions past him. Along the way: which brands pitched for the contract, how police torture-test candidate cars at Ohakea and Manfeild, why a single USB port can jam a police radio, and the real answers to the Toyota Camry, Subaru Outback, Nissan Skyline, a horse, and using seized vehicles. Read more at nzautocar.co.nz and autotrader.co.nz Subscribe for more New Zealand motoring news, reviews and interviews.
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Know's his cars this guy! Great interview. Thanks NZ police.
"customers" lol
This guy needs to take over running the FENZ fleet!
This Police guy really knows his cars & you can tell is a real car guy....Skoda was an obvious & well considered choice that won the day
In the UK, When the new Chief Constable of Kent Police Authority took over, back in the nineties. He wasn't haappy how the fleet vehicles were chosen and felt it was open to corruption. So he let the frontline traffic officers road test a number of different vehicles. The vehicle that won outright was the VR Skoda Octavia stationwagon. I can understand why the slightly bigger Superb was chosen for NZ police.
I much prefer a fast estate car like the Octavia and Superb. SUV are nice for all your kit but not great around the corners at speed.
Ears picked up when he covered radio frequencies for upcoming technologies before changing subject. Shall we all take a guess what this is for 😜
Kia doesn’t make the stinger anymore 😊
should, have asked about the rav4
It's interesting to see the cops going for the Skoda Superb. Station wagons as a whole are able to carry more cargo than SUVs.
A lot of interesting competing priorities to juggle. I know they used to manufacture a special police version of the Commodore with a heavier electrical system and higher spec brakes etc. Even the tyres were the better balanced fitups A few subtle mods too. I don't envy picking something now especially as mentioned things like the nanny state driver assists when you are trying to split lanes etc. Even things like the keys not locking cars or just being a clunky brick to fit in a pocket
You can tell Leighton is a true car guy and knows his stuff!, good interview!
Good video. I do wonder if the 'bigger' cops (being polite here) and also the bigger dogs fit (or squeeze) into the Skoda? I've a big G/Shepherd and he wont fit. Thought they might've stuck with small SUV (similar to the Holden Equinox they used to use) for dog cars. Guess they cant have everything.
Seized cars ....the fleet would all be sacked out ford couriers, nissanncefiros and the odd clapped out rotary 323.🤣
Love this guys humour! Fantastic NZ Police rep, informative & entertaining
Jevon McSkodaSkimmer
What Holdens do they still have?
Rules out Prius due to range? They do 700km.
How would a Prius (with like 800km range on a tank of gas) not serve the operational requirements of a 500km shift? I mean, they don't handle at all, so that'd be a problem. But range on a tank of gas would not be the problem.
Very surprised they haven’t gone with Tesla for at least a portion of the fleet. Would save a huge amount on maintenance and fuel. Not to mention the auto steer safety feature for multi tasking officers. Long range models over 600km, also extremely fast. Lots of police departments in the usa love them!