Hey Jake, it’s the new Blues Mobile…
Posted on 24. Apr, 2008 by DocDelete in SciTalk
No, it’s not a prop mock up for a new movie, it’s a working prototype for Carbon Motors’ new US police car: the aim being to get this vehicle adopted across all American police authorities. In a move that heavily involves Brit firm Lotus, this car perhaps demonstrates that our transAtlantic cousins are ‘getting the message’, particularly where European automotive technology is concerned. It uses a BMW turbodiesel for Pete’s sake!
It’s an interesting design. There’s that high bonnet profile that automakers now utilise to minimise pedestrian injury (gone are the days when the designer strove for wedge-like aerodynamic efficiency), with ground clearance fore and aft that makes the car useable in the real world (no Starsky and Hutch sparks from under the front fender when exiting a parking lot at speed!). But, oh my, did the brief include built-in aggression? Just look at the thing. Now imagine it tearing up behind you on the freeway, lights and siren ablaze. I, for one, would poop myself ;)
No doubt, it’ll still wallow around a tad more than your average Euro cart, but that’s more to do with the type of roads it’ll be used on, the number of hours the cops have to sit in them, and vehicle longevity…
Read the features list, which makes the car sound a lot like Judge Dredd’s Lawmaster bike ;) (except, of course, with four wheels not two… er, I’ll get me coat…)
- All-new purpose-built vehicle platform exclusively for law enforcement
- Meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements
- Designed for 250,000 mile durability specification
- Turn-key built-to-direct-order
- 24/7/365 call center support
- Improved end-of-vehicle-life process
- Comprehensive warranty
- Aluminum spaceframe body structure
- 75 mile per hour rear crash capability
- Cockpit with fully-integrated factory fitted law enforcement equipment
- Integrated emergency lights, spot lights, take down lights, directional stick
- Segment exclusive coach rear doors (safer suspect insertion / removal)
- Vehicle dynamic control
- Anti-lock brakes
- Optimized approach / departure angles and ground clearance
- NIJ Level III-A (or better) ballistic protection (front doors / dash panel)
- Purpose-designed seat for use with on-body equipment
- Heated and ventilated seats
- Heads up display
- Reverse backup camera
- Driver specific intelligent key
- 360 degree exterior surveillance capability
- Automatic license plate recognition system
- Video and audio surveillance of rear passenger compartment
- 130hz – 350hz bass siren
- Nightvision compliant interior illumination
- Integrated forward looking infrared system (FLIR)
- Integrated shotgun mounts
- Optimized storage capability (compartment and cargo)
- Integrated front and rear passenger compartment partition
- Hoseable rear passenger compartment
- Integrated push bumpers and PIT capability
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