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Friday, January 30, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian police has bought 25 high-powered Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution cars to catch criminals and speed hogs.

The cars, worth several millions of ringgit, would be fitted with safety gadgets and would sport the looks of police patrol cars.

Sources said the police had al­­ready taken possession and were testing the cars before sending them to the Road Transport Depart­ment for registration and approval.

“The cars are to be used in high-speed car chase, especially in cases of carjacking, kidnapping and hi­­jacking.

“The speed of the cars would enable the police to catch up with criminals who often used modified turbo charged cars to escape,” they said.

Several police personnel have been sent to undergo intensive driving classes to ensure they are able to handle the super charged cars, they added. The cars, they said, would also be used by the highway patrol unit to monitor speed hogs or illegal racers.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan confirmed the purchase but declined to elaborate.



Lancer Evolution Police Car

Last week, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) announced that they will be taking delivery of 25 units of Mitsubishi's 4-door fire breathing Lancer Evolution sedan as their new pursuit and VIP escort vehicle. PDRM is not alone in this purchase. UK's Southern Yorkshire police will also be taking delivery of their new Evos as part of their Road Crime Unit.


PDRM's Lancer Evolution high speed pursuit units will serve alongside their standard Proton Waja (Impian in Europe) patrol cars. Besides the Waja, a few units of Satria GTis and not too long ago, the ridiculously fast wagon Volvo 850-T5 were also used as pursuit vehicles.



The South Yorkshire Police in UK are already operating an existing fleet of previous generation Lancer Evolutions for their Road Crime Unit.





"As these are government vehicles, the cost would be about half the showroom price of RM324,000 since they are purchased tax-free. Also, the Evo's 295 bhp engine is a thirsty powerplant but since the police also get tax-free petrol, that should not be a worry either!"

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