These aren\u2019t off-the-shelf Subies, of course. The patrol cars are outfitted with emergency lights, a dual-battery system, a rifle mount with an electronic release, automatic license plate recognition software, advanced speed radar, and a lightbar with a messaging board. The police-spec<\/a> WRXs can also reach speeds of up to 155 mph. The top speed of a pedestrian-spec WRX is 134 mph per Car and Driver<\/em><\/a>. Officials said each police WRX cost the Australian equivalent of around $45,000 USD ($70,000 AUD). A new WRX RS in Australia starts at about $38,000 USD ($58,534 AUD).<\/p>\n \u201cDesigned by Police themselves, this latest edition to the Force\u2019s arsenal of resources is another example of Police and the Lawler Labor Government working hand in hand to lower crime,\u201d said Brent Potter, Minister for Police, in a press release<\/a>. \u201cThese vehicles have been designed to have everything an officer could want or need to do their job efficiently and safely.\u201d<\/p>\n The NT covers more than half a million square miles, making it the third-largest federal division in Australia. Even with the fleet update, it\u2019s still a bit of, um, territory to cover. But the area is sparsely inhabited. More than half of the territory\u2019s population lives in Darwin.<\/p>\n No additional information was provided regarding the WRX trim or what engine or other tech modifications were made. The new WRXs will replace Kia<\/a> Stingers and Volkswagen<\/a> Passats, which are being retired from the high-performance fleet. The unit will total 29 vehicles when the Subies are added. The Stingers themselves replaced the then-outgoing Holden Commodore<\/a> SS. Kinda makes one wonder what vehicle(s) make up the other half of the police units. Perhaps it\u2019s a sensible hot hatch like the Hyundai i30 N<\/a>? Maybe.<\/p>\n Got tips? Send \u2019em to tips@thedrive.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n