From family-friendly estates to commercial vehicles and police cars, the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports has proved to be a practical, dependable and highly adaptable model.
Its latest conversion into a police response vehicle is the result of a trial programme initiated by the public sector fleet service within our Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, where the Corolla is built. Starting in the summer of 2020, month-long loans of a Corolla Touring Sports factory modified to police specifications helped regional forces assess the hybrid model’s potential as a response vehicle.
Rachel Whinham, fleet manager; Chis Ackroyd, workshop manager; superintendent Simon Allardice, force lead for driving standards
Nottinghamshire Police is the latest regional force to react positively to this initiative. Its order of 20 new response vehicles required Toyota Manufacturing UK to apply a 425-step conversion to each car, including installing external and internal illumination, siren, control system, restricted frequency radio equipment, cargo guard and livery. Interestingly, every component used in the conversion is homologated for police use and originates from the UK.
Rachel Whinham, Nottinghamshire Police fleet manager, commented: “We have appreciated collaborating with Toyota on these converted response vehicles. The team at Toyota Manufacturing UK not only provided the base vehicles but worked alongside the force to carry out a conversion that has been meticulously safety-tested.
“The introduction of 20 hybrid Toyota Corolla police cars is a great step towards a greener fleet and our continued commitment to a reduction of carbon emissions. We expect the new Corollas to perform effectively in this role.”
Superintendent Simon Allardice, force lead for driving standards, added: “I am really pleased with the quality of the new cars. It was great to meet the Toyota team, who were passionate about ensuring the cars were finished to a very high standard. I’m confident this attention to detail will make them excellent police cars and up to the challenges of their busy policing role in Nottinghamshire.”
Toyota has an impressive track record in supplying vehicles to the emergency services. As a result of this proactive programme, Toyota Manufacturing UK is in talks with other regional police forces to provide similar vehicles.
I see the Police spec Corolla’s have 15″ steel wheels with plastic trim’s. Can i have these fitted to my Corolla instead of the 17″ alloy wheels which are prone to puntures and damaged to the alloys thanks to potholes and the awful roads we have here in the UK?
Hi Thomas, thanks for getting in contact.
Your Toyota Centre are best placed to advise on this. You can locate your closest centre here:
https://www.toyota.co.uk/find-a-dealer
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Thanks.
Hi, thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately, my local dealer has been no help at all. They’ve put my registration into their computer and it only list’s my currect alloy wheel for my Corolla which is an Excel. I really need your help with this. The roads are so dangerous where I live in East Sussex! They are riddled with potholes and craters etc. I need a thicker sidewall to abdorb the impact bumps etc. If you fit 15″ wheels to your estate van and Police spec then surely I can fit them to my car.
Please, can you look into this and get back to me.
Many thanks
Tom
Hi Thomas,
Thank you for your patience.
Our Parts Department have advised that there are no 15″ wheels compatible for your Corolla.
We apologise that we cannot assist you further with this.
Thanks.
Firstly, thank you for your reply.
Yes, this is what my local dealership has told me. You’ve offered me no alternative! What about 16″ alloy wheels? Sorry, I’ve spent £26,000 buying this car! This is not good enough!
Let me explain yet again how horrendous the ride is on my car. My lovely Corolla simply cannot cope with the awful UK road surfaces and is borderline dangerous! I have had 3 blowouts. The low profile tyres are useless and completely unnecessary on a family car.
If you are not willing to help me I will start writing to all motoring organisation’s, Watchdog etc until I get somewhere with this!
Is there someone I can speak to you in your technical department?
Look forward to your reply.
Many thanks
Tom King
Hi Tom,
We have spoke with our Parts and Technical departments who have advised that such an upgrade is not available because there are not compatible parts to facilitate such an upgrade.
We can only apologise about the inconvenience and frustration this causes.
Please let know if you have any further questions.
Thanks.
What exactly are the reason’s? It’s not an upgrade, it’s a downgrade! I am not asking for you to pay for it. I want to drive into my local dealership and have them supplied and fitted. And have whatever update necessary.
Have you seen the state of the UK roads. It’s all over the news! My poor car is bouncing and crashing all over the place! It’s actually dangerous! Seriously, these 17″ alloys with these low profile tyres are not fit for purpose.
Please, is Toyota unwilling to help me?
Tom
You and other Manufactuers think it’s ok to fit these ridiculously big alloys with skinny low profile tyres! Don’t get me wrong they look fantastic. Has anyone actually extensively test driven their car’s on UK roads?! Let me explain how dangerous they are. My Corolla, cannot absorb any little bump in the road. Myself and my passengers can feel every imperfection in the road. God forbid if I hit a pot hole because I’m in trouble. Obviously, the Police weren’t happy with the ride and therefore decided to go with the 15″ wheels. Next time I see a Police Spec Corolla in the East Sussex area I will take pictures on the wheels and post it on your website etc. Please can I get a satisfactory response.
Hi Thomas, thanks for your comment.
There is an accessory winter rim (black, steel wheel) that may be available with the part number of 42611-02R00 requiring tyres 195/65R15.
Thanks,
Toyota UK
Thank you! I’ve been into my local dealership today and it looks like we’re getting somewhere.
Many thanks
Tom
Well done Thomas King for your persistence. I have previously experienced this with the Corolla and also wondered about a solution.