Autocar's coolest police cars: Alpine A110, Lamborghini Huracan and a Bugatti Veyron in Dubai
D.Novikov
Autocar has compiled a list of the world's most striking police cars — from the classic Alpine A110 of the French gendarmerie to a Lamborghini Huracan used to transport donor organs in Italy.
Autocar has put together a substantial round-up of the coolest police cars in the world. And this isn’t a fantasy about tuned-up rides with flashing lights: many of these cars genuinely served on patrol — from compact city EVs to fully fledged supercars.
Top spot goes to the classic Alpine A110 of the French gendarmerie. The cars entered service in the late 1960s, after strict new speed limits were introduced on French roads — the police needed something quick enough to catch offenders. Weighing just 770 kg, the coupe with a 1.3-litre engine producing 125 hp could hit 97 km/h in 8.2 seconds and reach 216 km/h. For its time, that was a serious argument out on the open road.
The list also features the Porsche 911 Targa of the Austrian police, a Ferrari 458 Italia in the Czech Republic, an Audi R8 in Portugal, a Honda NSX in Japan, a BAC Mono on the Isle of Man and a Bugatti Veyron in Dubai. For some, the role is obvious: high-speed pursuits, cracking down on street racing, motorway patrol. Others look more like status symbols or simply the lucky fate of a confiscated car.
There are practical heroes too. Italy’s Lamborghini Huracan is used to transport donor organs in a refrigerated compartment when speed is critical. France’s Renault Megane RS handled motorway duty, while the Ford Escort RS Cosworth and Sierra RS Cosworth helped British police keep up with fast getaway cars.
The point of the round-up is simple: a police car doesn’t have to be a boring sedan. Sometimes what’s needed is speed, off-road ability, or just sheer presence — so the offender gets the message before the chase even begins.
