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Observers say WRX is hottest contender as police check out new patrol cars
By Christopher Tan
SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
THE next time you see a Subaru Impreza WRX roaring down the Central Expressway at breakneck speed, it may not be another illegal street race that you're witnessing. In fact, there could be a policeman behind the wheel.
The traffic police called for a public tender to replace some of their highway patrol cars in January and are close to deciding which car they prefer.
The police did not want to comment, beyond saying they were 'changing a few expressway patrol cars due for replacement'.
The Straits Times understands the tender - for four cars to be delivered and an option for eight more - drew bids from Volvo, BMW and Skoda. Subaru, with its rally-winning WRX, was the only Japanese contender.
Observers reckon the WRX has a fighting chance because its bid is believed to be the lowest, at around $52,000 apiece. The passenger car version, including taxes, duties and COE, is retailing for just below $100,000.
'The WRX is relatively cheap and reliable,' noted Lee Nian Tjoe, associate editor of Torque car magazine. 'It's obviously quite quick on its feet too... and it's the only one with all-wheel-drive.' Mr Lee, however, noted that it had 'a bad-boy image', even though it is used by police forces in places like the United States and Australia.
The next highest bid - around $65,000 - was submitted by Skoda, whose 180-horsepower turbo Octavia RS is the roomiest of the lot. But like the Subaru, it is a newcomer. Since the 1980s, the highway patrol squad has relied on BMWs, only breaking with tradition in 1999 when it took delivery of eight Volvo S40 turbos.
This time round, Volvo is fielding another turbo - the S60, which is bigger than the S40. Its bid of $88,000 to $89,000 is similar to BMW's.
The German luxury car maker is joining the fray with its newly-launched 320i, the only non-turbocharged model in the tender.
All the cars have a top speed well in excess of 200kmh, but the WRX is the quickest off the mark, sprinting from zero to 100kmh in 5.8 seconds. While that is fast enough for Singapore's finest to catch most speedsters on the road, there are much faster machines.
The fastest car on the road here is the 7.3-litre Pagani Zonda, which reaches 330kmh and can go from zero to 100kmh in 3.7 seconds.
*and there were already rumours going around that a number of white WRX's have already been ordered by the police*
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Just imagine the criminal sitting at the back roll in the brand new Volvo S60. Excuse me sir, can you uncuff me so that I can adjust the air con vent...feeling a bit warm down here :p
siao liao... the TPs will become more kuai lan now.... if they really get the WRX. Most pple will flock to join/sign on the TPs, so that they will get a feel of the WRX.....
but then again....... WRX are the cheapest and the best performing of the lot... singapore culture is ai pi ai qi ai TLN.... so high chance lah....
normally when i drive fast (as i'm always late for appointments ), i'll look out for white cars especially those unmark beemers and volvos. now that more and more different makes of police cars on the road, the more difficult to drive fast. especially there are a sea of subarus on the road.
....
Yuck PUKE!!!!!! 
), i'll look out for white cars especially those unmark beemers and volvos. now that more and more different makes of police cars on the road, the more difficult to drive fast. especially there are a sea of subarus on the road.
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