Chrysler 300 SRT Core, BMW 530d confirmed for NSW Police

NSW Police is soon to have 350kW and 637Nm at its disposal in the form of a number of 2018 Chrysler 300 SRT Cores, its new Highway Patrol Command fleet cars.

Joining the American muscle car will be a German executive, albeit in a very basic fleet-trim, the turbo diesel six 2018 BMW 530d.

Though the SRT weighs almost two tonnes, it’s packing a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 which allows it to hit 100km/h from a standstill in 4.68 seconds – a time we’ve clocked during a MOTOR review.

The 3.0-litre inline six turbo diesel engine in the 530d only puts out 195kW, but 620Nm makes for a 0-100km/h sprint in less than 6 seconds.

The SRT is also quicker than the Kia Stinger which had been reportedly considered last year.

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NSW assistant commissioner Michael Corboy says more than a dozen vehicles were considered for the job, but these two took the top places.

“The safety of our police officers and the community they serve is our top priority, and both these vehicles demonstrated the safety levels meeting our requirements,” Corboy says.

“Equally as important, the platform of both vehicles supports the state of the art technology that is key to the government’s focus on reducing the incidents of road trauma across New South Wales.”

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Corboy adds that the vehicles had been tested and passed due to their financial viability as well as having been built for use as police vehicles in other parts of the world.

“NSW Police looked all over the world for replacements for [Commodore and Falcon] which have served this state well over the past 20 or 30 years.

“We expect that the cost of these vehicles over the lifetime of the cars will be on par with our current fleet costs.”

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Recently, Victoria Police confirmed it would also be using up to 80 of BMW’s diesel 5 Series to make up a portion of its Highway Patrol fleet.