The Ford Mustang Failed The Australian Highway Patrol’s High Performance Test Because It Overheated
When we tested the 2015 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT at a wet and windy Silverstone last month, we couldn’t help but fall for it. With new independent rear suspension, a 410bhp V8 and a sweet manual gearbox, we were overjoyed that Ford had finally given us a Mustang that felt at home on undulating UK roads.
With production of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore coming to an end, our friends down under have been searching for their next high performance patrol vehicle. The Mustang was their first choice with its sizeable boot, torque-laden V8 and well-regarded factory support. Unfortunately - and somewhat surprisingly - the GT failed the Australian Highway Patrol’s high performance test with Jalopnik reporting that the car overheated after just three minutes of “intense driving.”
The GT passed a brake test at the New South Wales (NSW) Police Driving Academy, but the automatic gearbox - a requirement for all vehicles on the force - put an end to proceedings, forcing the car into a “limp home mode” mid-way through a performance test. Business Insider Australia reported that the car even had to be taken to a local Ford dealership for repairs.
So it looks like the Ford is well and truly out of the running, but the NSW Police Department still has the Volvo S60 Polestar and Volkswagen Golf R Wagon on its shortlist. The car that they eventually choose will have to take part in Operation Freeflow, an operation designed to deter traffic offences by intimidating drivers to slow down. Granted, the Golf and Volvo will be better dynamically, but is there anything scarier than seeing a V8 Muscle car in your rear-view?
So this got us thinking. Can we help choose a car for the NSW Police Department? What automatic, high-performance car would you guys like to see join the force? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: EFTM and Business Insider Australia.
Comments
The humidity in Australia (where I live) is quite high. Also, the arid temperatures cause vehicles to overheat after hard driving. Even the little engines (straight turbo 6’s (common in Australia)) overheat during normal days after 5-10 minutes of intense driving.
Considering this engine being fu cking massive, it will produce enormous amounts of heat, which isn’t ideal.
My 2 cents
5 liters is big 7 is huge and 8.4 is massive
See fords reliability is still poor after two years
Why not an M5?
Way too expensive in Australia
How is a coupe practical at all for a police force? I’ve never seen anything but SUVs, Wagons, Trucks and Sedans being used a police cars, except for special one-offs like the ones in Dubai which are really more for show than serious police work.
You know how here in the US, they have mustangs, camaros, and had trans ams, and firebirds, and probably use Charger R/t, or SRT8s for highway patrol/high speed persuit vehicles?
Rs5 because german muscle.
Arn’t STI’S good enough for them? Best car for the job in Australia
What I don’t understand is that ford was willing to modify the crown vics with the Panther platform for police use, so why cant they work with ford to have a more robust trans? is it because their too far away?
Over sea shipping (american design and build), they did cost a bit to build, but they are the best bang for the buck
Doesn’t the GT make 435 HP? Or is that in U.S. spec?
435 US spec. I believe they had to move the exhaust around a bit which makes it a bit more restrictive because of the steering rack in the right hand drive cars.
Something thats fast, not too expensive and can fit people in the back. That’s why Commodores were good.
Slick! Too bad it didn’t make the cut