Polizia Cruise In Style

The latest news from Italian supercar maker Lamborghini has the SantAgata Bolognese – based manufacturer donating a police version of the Gallardo LP560-4 to the Italian State Police.

If it’s Friday it must be Bologna

Once again, it’s Friday here at LotPro.com. This means that we have an excuse to meander even further off the beaten path (or road course) than is the norm. So when the news item “Lamborghini donates the new ‘Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia’ to the Italian State Police” crossed the desk, it was impossible to ignore.

Support your local sheriff

Reading further into the article, not only did Lamborghini donate a police version of their newest super sports car to the police, but this particular vehicle is actually a replacement for one of two first-generation Gallardos currently in use by the policia di stato.

The first Gallardo was donated in 2004 to Rome’s finest. Since that time, it has managed to accumulate nearly 87,000 while patrolling the roads of central and southern Italy. A second Gallardo, this one donated in 2005, was put into service in Bologna, Italy and its odometer has already rolled past the 62,000 mile threshold.

According to Lamborghini, aside from the regular service intervals, neither vehicle has required major repairs.

 A few special options

Unlike your run-of-the-mill police cruisers, the Gallardo required no special modifications to the suspension or engine – especially in light of the fact that the LP560-4’s 5 liter V-10 engine develops 560 horsepower and has a top speed of 203 mph.

Inside the cabin, however, it’s a different story, entirely. This “police special” comes standard with the latest in video system and GPS technology. A camera fitted next to the rear view mirror is capable of capturing video and sending it to recording equipment located behind the seats. Once police spot a transgressor, they can activate the “Proof Video Data System”. This system calculates the location, direction and speed of the Lamborghini and combines this information with the distance and time before intercept to determine the speed of the offending vehicle. Video images are also transferred to the relevant police station, in real time using radio data transmission, where the images are stored and used for automatic license plate number retrieval.

In addition to these high-tech features, the Gallardo is also fitted with police radio equipment and the “Paletta,” a traditional hand-held stop signed used to advise motorists to pull over (one does have to follow tradition, even in a 200 mph sports car).

Special Training

You obviously can’t turn over a 560 hp vehicle to just any cop on the beat, and the Gallardo is no exception. A team of 30 specially-trained officers are the only ones permitted behind the wheel. Each team member (27 men and 3 women) has completed a multi-day driver training school as well as special training in the use of the LP560-4’s medical equipment.

Paint and aerodynamics

The traditional “blu Polizia” colors have been applied to the Gallardo with the traditional Italian eye for style. Even the roof beacon was “aerodynamically optimized” to deal with the extreme top speeds the vehicle was likely to encounter. To top it off, four sirens have been integrated into the front and rear that “generate unmistakable audible warning signals.”

What more is there to say?

While those new Dodge Charger police specials sure look menacing, leave it to the Italians to do it in style.

Seal of the Polizia di Stato

Tags: Dodge, dodge charger, gallardo, lamborghini, lamborghini gallardo, paletta, polizia, polizia di stato