SEAT supplies bulletproof Leons to Italian police
Italian police have shunned Italian cars in favour of SEAT's Leon hatch with bulletproof modifications
SEAT has won a contract to supply police cars to the italian Polizia and Carabinieri. SEAT will provide the italian police force with the Leon family hatch in 2.0 TDI 148bhp diesel guise. The SEAT Leon police cars will feature bulletproof armour and various other specialised equipment including backs seats that act as a prison cell.
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206 vehicles have already exchanged hands between SEAT and the italian police force (the Polizia Di Stato). Out of these 206 vehicles 106 have been supplied to the Carabineri. The cars will be distinct as the Polizia version will be the classic blue and the Carabineri version being black. The full contract specifies a total of 4000 vehicles to be supplied in a three-year period and 925 vehicles have already had orders confirmed. 475 of these vehicles will be supplied to the Polizia and another 450 to the Carabinieri.
As previously mentioned, the Polizia and Carabinieri vehicles will be powered by the zesty 2.0 litre TDI engine, chosen for its strong performance and economy. The cars themselves will have an armour plated front end for protection against small arms fire. The 22mm thick windscreen can stop a bullet and the front doors are resistant against AK47 rounds.
Tweaks to the standard suspension mean the driving dynamics are not compromised by the weight of the armour. The rear cabin of the police Leons has also been designed to detain prisoner's in a 'cell-like environment'.
SEAT will produce the Italian police cars at its factory in Martorell. The vehicles will then be transported to Italy for further modification by specialist company Nuova Carrozzeria.
What do you think of the Italian police opting to drive SEAT Leon's instead of the traditional Alfas and Fiats? Let us know in the comments section below...
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