SPF’s New Fleet Hits the Road
By NSPI Jonathan Goh

Sound of engines roaring and gravel crunching under wheels broke the peaceful silence of Fourth Avenue on the morning of 20 April 2006. If you happened to have driven by, you would have noticed a large fleet of police vehicles passing through the gates of Automotive Engineering and Management Division (AEMD).It was not a deployment for an operation but the operational launch of a new fleet of vehicles adding to the car pool of Singapore Police Force (SPF).

At a simple ceremony at AEMD, 131 motor vehicles, all new and sparkling white, were on display awaiting the arrival of the GuetoHonour, Deputy Commissioner of f-Police (DC) Goh Liang Kwang. Representatives- from Borneo Motors Pte Ltd and Motor sImage Enterprises each presented a symbolic key to DC Goh, who subsequently flagged off the brand new vehicles. The three types of vehicles launched were the Fast Response Vehicle (FRV), Fast Response Car (FRC) - marked and unmarked, and the much talked about Expressway Patrol Vehicle (EPV) for Traffic Police. With the roll out of this new fleet of vehicles, all Neighbourhood Police Centres now have two FRVs and a new saloon car each.

The Heads of Support and Technical (S&T) and OCs Transport were present to witness the distribution of the vehicles to the land divisions, Airport Police and Traffic Police.

Fast Response Vehicle
Model: Toyota Hilux 3.0 Turbo
Almost identical to the FRV showcased at last year’s Workplan Seminar, this new fleet of FRVs has a bigger engine capacity with Turbo intercooler. Additional adjustments were made to the back compartment to fit a trolley to house the operational equipment currently carried by the Fast Response Cars (FRCs). It also comes with central lock remote control keys with vehicle immobiliser.

Fast Response Car and Expressway
Patrol Vehicle
Model: Subaru Impreza TS 1.6 (FRC)
Subaru Impreza WRX 2.0
Turbo (EPV)

Officers will be cruising down the roads in this new car, which comes with a symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system for perfect weight distribution - front to rear and side to side. This provides better balance when making a turn at speed. With the AWD, power is transmitted through all four wheels during cornering, which gives better grip. The cars
can be steered naturally and neutrally in the direction of the bend thus avoiding the under-steer or oversteer typical in the two wheel-driven vehicles.

In terms of safety, the new FRC comes equipped with Ring Shape Reinforcement Frames - a rigid cage of High Elasticity Steel Hoops surrounding the driver and passengers. It also has dual airbags, for both the driver and front passenger. Customised to officers' operational needs, the car is equipped with factory-approved heavy duty and hardened suspension coil and shock absorbers. With its bigger capacity, maintenance free battery
and alternator, the car is able to support Police Operations Electronic Equipment installed in the vehicles.

In addition, all eight Subaru WRX 2.0 Turbo for Traffic Police come with the enhanced Tyron Safety Band. This band allows the driver of the vehicle to have full control of the vehicle in the event of a sudden tyre blow out at high speed. The band prevents a blown out tyre from coming out of the wheel rim, and allows it to act as a cushion between the road surface and the rim.