FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 March 1998
NISSAN PRIMERA POLICE CAR
Following a highly successful year long trial with Hampshire Police, Nissan has launched a police specification Primera to be used as a Marked Area Patrol Car in line with the Home Office guidelines.
The car, based on a GX model, will feature the suspension, engine and transmission from the high performance 2.0 litre Primera GT. Other features include a passenger airbag, electrically adjusted, heated door mirrors to improve rearward visibility and a four-way adjustable passenger seat with lumbar support – usually found as a standard feature on prestige cars. In addition to the high specification, Nissan is offering an extended three years/100,000 mile warranty on the Police Primera.
Nissan developed the highly specified Primera in close co-operation with senior members of the National Association of Police Fleet Managers. There are a number of Home Office approved modifications needed to bring to car up to full police specification. These include a calibrated speedo, radio mounting boards and cabling to meet Home Office specifications. Nissan has contracted Woodway Engineering Ltd in Coventry to carry out the special modifications. Woodway can also supply the light bars and other specialist equipment required by the police and other emergency services so that the cars can be delivered fully equipped and ready for use. Nissan also has a supplier who can supply livery to the police forces if required.
Nissan currently has six additional Primera demonstrators for short-term trial and the first forces to test these cars will include Northumbria Police, Kent County Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police Service. All vehicles have the specified modifications plus light bars and sirens and two cars will be fitted with the latest Tracker system. Nissan hopes to place the demonstrators with all 52 forces in the UK by the end of the year.
Phil Cripps, Nissan’s fleet aftersales manager responsible for the project said, “Nissan has been investigating producing a police specification Primera for a few years and the introduction of the New Primera in 1996, with its new multi-link beam suspension and improved handling, gave us a car which was perfect for development."
“The Primera is one of the best handling cars in its class and with its industry leading whole life costs, we expect it to be strongly considered as a police car by many of the forces around the country”, he continued.
John Bradley, fleet manager with Hampshire Police said of their Primera “We have had excellent service from the Primera. It has been extremely reliable, which is a must for our area cars. Our drivers have been particularly impressed with the build quality, road-holding capabilities and performance of the Nissan.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Graham Biggs Product Affairs Manager 01923 899930
E-mail: graham.biggs@nissan.co.uk
Linda Robinson Product Press Officer 01923 899930
E-mail: linda.robinson@nissan.co.uk