Dubai police have announced the latest acquisition to their fleet of cop cars: a 700 horsepower Lamborghini Aventador.
Unlike scofflaws in Saudi Arabia who risk a trip to “chop-chop square”, criminals in Dubai’ may now face a white-knuckle ride in one of the world’s fastest and most expensive cars. The supercar, which can reach speeds of up to 220 mph, cost nearly half a million dollars. No word if the green and white custom paint job (the colors of the Dubai police force) was thrown in for free.
Dubai’s initial riches were earned on the back of the oil industry, but its open society and strategic public policies have attracted international investment in wider business sectors. Financial services, real estate and tourism all generate enormous cash flows, and though dampened by the 2008 banking crisis, the emirate remains economically robust. Robust enough for expensive cop cars (read our report on the purported white gold mercedes).
Rich boys like expensive toys. Green Prophet’s reported on the fleet of abandoned luxury cars throughout the Emirates, but the United Arab Emirate’s roadways remain a parade of the world’s most luxurious vehicles. And luxurious means fast. This new cop cruiser has a maximum speed of 217 mph and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. This ain’t Starsky & Hutch’s Camaro.
Lamborghini Aventador in action
A staggering 15 percent of traffic fines issued in Dubai are for driving at speeds exceeding 130 mph, so authorities hope their new wheels will help them keep up. Additional sports cars are set to join the fleet too, designed according to police specifications in an effort to “facilitate policing on highways”, said a report in Yahoo Autos.
A Dubai cop car in “Ferrari”
According the same source, a recent study of Canadian police departments found the “average police car spends two-thirds of a 10-hour shift idling.” That translates to over 3 gallons of fuel per shift burned just staying in place. Imagine how much fuel the Aventador will use?
Maybe they can check with their Italian and Qatari cop colleagues, who also tool around in Lamborghinis.
Pictures of white gold car spotted in the Gulf:
The force made the announcement through its Twitter feed, @DubaiPoliceHQ. No word on which lucky cops get handed the keys or if they’ll receive special driving lessons.
Image of custom Lamborghini from Dubai Police
Triviality and money often go together, Rick. And Dubai appears to still have plenty of money despite the recent real estate bust there.
Starsky & Hutch drove a Ford Torino GT that in no way could be confused with a Camaro. Trivial? Yes, but so is the article.
I wonder what these cops will go after in this rig – maybe the Abu Dhabi white gold Mercedes?