Criminals across the country will be looking at their getaway cars with new uncertainty today because the police have unveiled a powerful weapon in the fight against crime.
The Lotus Evora police car is the fastest in the UK with a top speed of 168mph and a 0-60mph sprint of less than five seconds. Staying out of reach of the long arm of the law just became a lot more difficult.
The 280bhp Evora is on loan to the police for a two-week trial to be held in the West Midlands. It's been delivered in full police livery with the essential blue flashing lights and you can bet that there are plenty of police drivers in the queue for a turn behind the wheel.
"It's a very quick car," pointed out PC Angus Nairm, "and we hope it will prove an effective deterrent to anyone thinking of speeding or trying to outrun us."
"It has incredible performance yet still does around 30 miles to the gallon. It will attract a lot of attention on the motorways but that is the whole idea - it will remind drivers of the need to keep to their speed limits at all times."
Anyone who'd like to see the £50,000 Evora police car for themselves should keep their eyes peeled on the M6, M5 and M42 motorways as well as on the M6 toll road. Make sure you watch your speed though or the first time you clap eyes on the Evora, it might be in your rear view mirror with its lights ablaze.
UK police forces have used high-performance pursuit cars for years but the Lotus Evora police car sets a new standard for pace and visual impact.
The German police have been known to use Porsche 911 patrol cars and there was famously a Lamborghini Gallardo police car employed by the Italians but it's fitting that the quickest cops in Britain will be at the wheel of the flagship Evora coupé from Norfolk-based Lotus.
