Toyota prepares the Corolla for police service

When it comes to public bodies spending taxpayers’ money on new vehicles, there’s a compelling argument that says they should purchase locally-built products to support their domestic economy.

Unfortunately, such reasoning rarely prevails in the UK nowadays. Either nothing suitable is manufactured here or, more likely, procurement decisions are driven purely by costs without any sense of patriotism.

At least police forces needing a general patrol car could soon have another excuse to buy British.

Many of them already choose the Vauxhall Astra (which is assembled in Ellesmere Port) over foreign rivals. Now, Toyota wants its Corolla (made in Derbyshire) to compete for a slice of that particular authorities market.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Police Car (2020) Front Side

Accordingly, a Touring Sports – oddly in range-topping Excel guise – has been converted into a police demonstrator. Modifications include a full Battenburg livery, warning lights and communications equipment. An unaltered 2.0 litre ‘self-charging’ petrol-hybrid powertrain provides 181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS), so presumably emergency response times are going to be good enough.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Police Car (2020) Dashboard

Of course, the discount levels on offer are unknown, but they will ultimately determine Toyota’s success in this venture.

Toyota Corolla Touring Sports Police Car (2020) Rear Side

Related posts:
Every 2020 Toyota Corolla will be a hybrid
2019 Toyota Corolla Touring Sports revealed

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