The Subaru WRX – once a favourite of ram raiders and boy racers – has turned to the blue side, with the Northern Territory Police set to take delivery of 13 performance sedans for its high-powered vehicle fleet.
It’s not the first time the Subaru WRX has been used by Top End police, with the previous-generation model becoming a part of the fleet in 2016 – then paired with ageing VE Holden Commodores.
Now the new-gen WRX will be replacing the NT Traffic Police Unit’s Kia Stingers and Volkswagen Passats, with the 13 Subarus increasing the fleet to 29 cars.
According to Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler, the first Subaru WRX police cars will start appearing on Darwin streets in the coming weeks, with the remaining dozen examples set to roll out across the jurisdiction throughout the year.
As with many other patrol cars, they’re fitted with emergency lighting, a dual battery system, rifle mount with electronic release, automatic number plate recognition, advanced speed radar and a light bar with a messaging board.
The Northern Territory Government claims the WRXs can hit up to 250km/h, though it’s not known if they are equipped with a six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.
A 2.4-litre turbocharged ‘flat-four’ engine in the WRX produces up to 202kW of power and 350Nm of torque, which is delivered to all four wheels.
MORE: Everything Subaru WRX
