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
I think they should use the hellcat.
Around here in pa around Philly it’s mostly fords dominating the police forces with the occasional Tahoe or charger
They should use this car.
crying internally
BMW M6 GC, Bentley Continental GT V8S, Nissan GT-R
Well…
On the Texas/Mexico border I heard they are supplying sheriffs and border patrol with tuned Ford Raptors all that open country boys in blue down under should give them a go.
We don’t get them in Australia except through private import
Most of our issue is in populated areas on freeways and highways so that raptor would be very big and bulky to get around when you are chasing evo 10’s, WRX STI’s etc
What made the car over heat in 3 mins? This don’t say why it did. Must have do something wrong as a driver.
Audi rs4 or even s4
Just some fun info
In the past few years, New South Wales, Australia (which has probably the most advanced and strictes police force in the country in terms of driving law) has picked up their game with highway patrol and unmarked cars. The highways patrols must all have aftermarket performance brakes installed and can range anywhere from a Ford XR6 turbo to the FPV GT-F or HSV GTS. In some cases there are even Jaguars Porsches and mclarens used for short durations.
However the unmarked cops have a bit more to work with. They’ve been seen with anything from base model Holden commodores, to Toyota corollas, Nissan s15 with exhaust and body modifications, Mitsubishi evolution 10 and big 4wd fitted to go off road. It is getting harder and harder to pick them and they’re getting sneakier and sneakier as time passes. Some have even been known to rev at people stopped at lights to entice them to race, and book them when the other car takes off
It’ll be interesting to see what they end up choosing and what continues to be selected for unmarked vehicles
Hellcat??
M5