British Police complete Evolution trilogy
December 10, 2008 by George Skentzos
Swaying from the standard police issue diesel hatchback which the British public have become accustomed to, the South Yorkshire Police department has acquired its third consecutive Mitsubishi Evolution pursuit vehicle.
The Evolution X will serve as a Road Crime unit alongside the previous Evolution VIII and IX generation currently in service, dealing in cases involving drug dealers and grand theft auto.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a favoured pursuit vehicle due to its effortless handling and performance which minimises the risk of accidents.
With a trilogy of all-paw pursuit cars on offer, the South Yorkshire Police prefer to ‘hunt’ in packs of three, which, Inspector Slack explained is often enough of a deterrent that high-speed chases are avoided.
The sight of three Evolutions in the rear mirror creates such a strong visual impact that the vehicle being pursued will often simply give up the chase and pull over, knowing they won’t be able to out-run the RCU.
The cars also boast the latest in Police hardware and software, with an onboard Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system allowing officers to check who the vehicle is registered to and if there is anything remotely suspicious about the vehicle.
Print it: 
Thats what I really do not want my taxes spent on, boy racer cars for plod to chase boy racers in there 15 year old stolen VX Corsas.
I’ve noticed my local force (Devon & Cornwall) have a fleet of BMW 5 series tourings to cruise the motorways. Extravagent at the least.
Still, a much better car for its purposes rather than the TRD Aurion.
Impressive. If I saw 3 commodore/aurion on my rear view mirror, I know I still have a chance outrunning them in corners.
Saw the Victorian EvoX cop car on Saturday with a VE SS patrol car and it looked pretty good.
Bet it cost a bit more that the 9k pounds a regular Astra Patrol Car does in the UK [As stated on Top Gear recently]
I think someone in a M3 Porsche or HSV would accept being pulled over by a cop in an Evo X more than they would if the cop was in an Aurion etc… our cops should get a few more of them
At least the UK police are using these as operational vehicles, unlike the short term PROMOTIONAL Evo’s, Hummers, 300C’s etc in Aus.
Sorry Bret, but I can sort of confirm that Victoria Police have a new fleet of Evo X’s for there Road blitz campaign, they are unmarked and just look like a normal road going car (all the aerials for there communications are hidden. I know this as I saw some poor shmuck on the side of the road with a Evo X behind it and red & blue flashing lights!
Do they have “grand theft auto” in the UK?
Cupid Stunt aka No Name Says:
December 10th, 2008 at 5:04 am
??Thats?? what I really do not want my taxes spent on, boy racer cars for plod to chase boy racers in ??there?? 15 year old stolen VX Corsas.
I’ve noticed my local force (Devon & Cornwall) have a fleet of BMW 5 series tourings to cruise the motorways. Extravagent at the least.
Money should be spent on spelling instead…..
Did someone really just say that the Evo would kill a HSV in the corners, really?
How many cops do you see waiting to run with someone on a back road in the country? None. They sit on the freeway.
And a Evo would not stand a chance against a SS or a XR6T on the freeways, not even close.
Tom Says:
December 10th, 2008 at 11:43 am
“And a Evo would not stand a chance against a SS or a XR6T on the freeways, not even close. ”
So I guess you’ve never driven an evo then Tom.
C’mon Tom; you only have to watch the GT Production series where EVOs compete not only agianst AWD Imprezas but also RWD V8 SSs and XR8s as well as HSVs and FPVs..
Which cars are always at the front jostling for the lead? Mark King and Gary Holt in their Evos?
Even at Phillip Island and Bathurst and – the fastest tracks in Australia
Why? it comes down to a simple matter of Power to Weight and agility.
Adstar, that maybe the case, but the marked EVO reported on earilier wasn’t fully kitted for police work, it is a flashy promo vehicle.
And on the topic of unmarked police cars, in SA we have some new …….. Camrys. Yep the 4 cyl version. Probably detective cars or something, but as they still have the lights in the front and back windows, they are unmarked police cars.
We actually have quite a few cool police cars in the UK. It’s just a shame that most of them are still diesel Astras and V70s. There are heaps of 5 Series all over the UK (not just in Devon and Cornwall) and I think I’ve seen a Lamborghini or two and some Porsche 911s. There are also a few Lotus Elises and Exiges around. There seem to be a lot of WRXs on patrol in the countryside I’ve noticed. Not sure why as it’s pretty crime free, at least in the part of the countryside where I have a house. I suppose they’re probably just having fun!
Tom I was brought up around COmmo’s and I work for a ford dealership ( I know sorta weird), But in a straight line, the ss or xr6t would have nothing, and through the corners the Evo would be all over them and out in front.
Reckless1, I had the opportunity to use “Grand Theft Auto” in an article, I wasn’t going to pass it by! :P
Reckless – sorry teach. I’m on detention now.Ha Ha
I just read somewhere that Devon & Cornwalls fuel bill is £2.3Million per annum. That’s a few point on the reward card!!
Correct Alex – Thames Valley were running unmarked Yellow M3’s a few years ago.
Hey no typos to wind Reckless up with.
dont the older models look so dated next to the EVO X…..
i read about the auto number plate recognition stuff a while ago.
im pretty sure they already have that running on some of the choppers in the sky.
wont be long before they have that tech as a fixed point camera kind of thing on all main roads
I tend to agree with you Andree M the “Aussie” Designed Lancer Evo looks aggressive and the Evo bodykit only enhances its looks.
Whereas the New Subaru Impreza has lost its character and makes some of the older models including the “Bug Eyed” model look modern
I think I just found my new career: highway cop. CHiPs fantasy, here I come…
The evo X is sick
these evo’s are the FQ360 that UK get with 360hp not the standard 290hp ones.