Corolla given the ‘blue light’ for UK police forces

Four years ago, Toyota Manufacturing UK’s special vehicle operations division revealed that it had developed a Corolla Touring Sports prototype to meet police requirements. This demonstration model was immediately deployed to forces up and down the country on month-long evaluation loans, which in turn prompted Nottinghamshire Police to be the first to place a substantial vehicle order.

During the past two years, Toyota has continued to work closely with multiple constabularies to ensure the Corolla Touring Sports meets all the principle requirements for consideration. And having recently passed the police authority’s extensive testing, including the Metropolitan Police’s own rigorous test programme, the car has been given the ‘blue light’ as an approved police response vehicle for forces throughout the UK.

“We have worked with all divisions of Toyota in the UK and various constabularies, which has enabled us to build on their feedback and requirements. We are proud that our Corolla is now one of the vehicles of choice for the police.”

Richard Kenworthy, managing director Toyota Manufacturing UK

As a result of this approval, representatives from more than 20 constabularies recently attended an event at Burnaston to learn more about the qualities that make the Corolla Touring Sports a strong proposition for police fleets.

The special vehicle operations team at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston plant carries out the conversion work to ensure the finished vehicles meet the same quality standards as all other Corolla models built there. Production capacity is expected to expand to 15 vehicles per week, with the associated economies of scale helping to drive costs down. Forces are also looking forward to benefitting from the vehicle’s hybrid drivetrain, which will bring its own fuel and emissions efficiency benefits to fleets being renewed.

Key features of a police-specification Corolla include:

• Integrated satellite navigation, parking sensors, and a dog guard for the load compartment

• Roof-mounted light bar, exterior and interior illumination

• Secondary battery equipment and control systems built to withstand impact forces

• Siren, radio system support and livery options

• Available in either 1.8-litre Active grade or 2.0-litre Icon grade

Learn more: All-electric Toyota bZ4X makes its parks police debut