American and Canadian police have to be some of the best drivers out there. Aside from the obvious point of intensive training, consider what most of them drive: Ford Crown Victorias or Chevy Impalas. A lot of officers swear by them, but a few swear about them -- and rightly so, from a performance perspective. Just keeping one of those unwieldy anachronisms on the road during pursuit is a test of skill.

With some exceptions here and especially abroad, international police cruisers can be even worse (we’re looking at you, Mexico), but many are a lot better -- or at least sneakier. To wit, it probably won’t be long before the new Chevrolet Camaro is added to a few departments. While the aforementioned Impalas in Montreal, Canada, are as worthless as they are elsewhere, Montreal’s have stealthy whitewashed markings you can’t spot until it’s too late. Let’s check out some international police cruisers currently on duty. They have cop motors, cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks, and they’re cooler than a Cop Rock marathon.

 

 

United States
When you think of purpose-built vehicles, the most immediate things that come to mind are fire trucks, or if you’re old enough, Checker taxis. Faster and far more badass is the E7 from startup Carbon Motors, who tout their car as “a new brand of justice” and deride traditionally retrofitted civilian cars with, “It should be illegal to impersonate a police car," in their marketing. Though currently on a cross-country promotional tour, reportedly strong interest suggests the E7 will soon be coming to a speed trap near you.

Dubai
Even if it is an unlikely international police cruiser, Dubai police obviously know a great all-around package when they see one. The Volkswagen GTI makes up for its 200-horsepower rating with levels of handling and composure that are rare in this class. Opting for the five-door model (introduced to our shores for 2007) obviously helps when showing guests to their quarters. And with the 2010 update, those quarters and the car’s handling will be even better, provided the GTI continues to be enlisted.

 

Australia
General Motors’ Bob Lutz has been on-again, off-again, and now it seems, really off-again regarding whether the Pontiac G8 would live on as the Chevrolet Caprice (should’ve kept the car but allowed the Caprice name to rest in peace, we say). Meanwhile the car’s original iteration blasts around its home country as an international police cruiser. Between the Commodore’s tough-guy looks and its V8 growl, no bad guy in his right mind should resist arrest.

 

Russia
It wouldn’t be overly shocking to see a Porsche Cayenne in use by, say, the California Highway Patrol -- even if it meant paying for gas with IOUs. However, if you want an international police cruiser that’s truly a fish out of water, drop it in Russia. Not only do you imagine Russian cops in nasty old Ladas, but Cayennes are more often Russian bad guys’ ride of choice or the target of car thieves. Surprisingly, the pointless status symbol in America is proving itself useful as an emergency vehicle internationally -- to jurisdictions able to afford them.

 

United States
Ford’s crusty Crown Vic may have utility, but the automaker’s Mustang GT makes a stealthy cruiser; and it’s essentially unmatched in performance -- at least until the new Chevy Camaro reports for duty in police trim. Even if the police-issue Dodge Charger boasts more power, more doors and more perp-hauling space, it can’t touch Mustang GT in handling. Police cruisers like this tend to make roadblocks highly unnecessary. 

 

United Kingdom
British rozzers have gone further upscale with the newest option of a Jaguar. Now, the car regarded as critical to saving Jaguar can save the day as well. But as we’re accustomed to hearing (or, in many cases, not hearing) V8s under Jags’ hoods in North America, these international police cruisers have 275-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesels under their bonnets. However desirable the XF, we maintain it’s more enjoyable to ride in one stateside, uncuffed and in the driver’s seat.

 

Japan
Japanese police have a history of using low numbers of highly cool cars. In the past, cars like the Honda (Acura) NSX, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Mitsubishi GTO (3000 GT) have been enlisted for show and for high-speed highway use. Lately, the Mazda RX-8 has been in service. Later-generation RX-7s and today’s RX-8 have been somewhat dark horses here, appreciated more by critics than consumers. Mazda’s home market has been kinder, and the country’s police seem to have the whole fight-fire-with-fire thing down with this as an international police cruiser.

 

United Kingdom
The latest Evo is one of the best all-around cars you can buy, and some British police get the privilege of chasing the baddies in them. Only this generation of the car is recent; South Yorkshire police have used previous generations of Evos in their Road Crime Unit for some time, and no doubt with proven performance. Even if the punishment (a sometimes abusively stiff ride) doesn’t fit the crime in this car, there aren’t many more effective tools for dealing with miscreants.

© aj82/Flickr

Germany
It only makes sense to match the territory with a car capable of patrolling it, and a handful of these specially prepared Porsche 911s are up to the task of handling the German Autobahn. While the iconic sports car might come off as a strange choice for a cop car, with no real space for transporting offenders over three feet tall, it’s otherwise ideal. The 911 idles all day in slow traffic as easily as it remains stable well past 150 mph. Neither extreme rattles this international police cruiser; it just performs.

 

Italy
If so inclined, the Thin Blue Line could easily leave thick black lines everywhere they go. This ultimate international police cruiser is not a one-off PR exercise that will never be used in day-to-day enforcement. Marques like Ferrari and Spyker have done so in recent years; but Lamborghini Gallardos see actual duty in Bologna, Rome, and with the Italian State Police. We suspect high-speed chases have never been so fast or so brief.