The Ford Mustang Failed The Australian Highway Patrol’s High Performance Test Because It Overheated

This new police-specification Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT sure looks ready to police the streets of Australia, but unfortunately it hasn't made the grade to become a bona fide cop car
The Ford Mustang Failed The Australian Highway Patrol’s High Performance Test Because It Overheated

When we tested the 2015 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT at a wet and windy Silverstone last month, we couldn’t help but fall for it. With new independent rear suspension, a 410bhp V8 and a sweet manual gearbox, we were overjoyed that Ford had finally given us a Mustang that felt at home on undulating UK roads.

Photo credit: eftm.com.au
Photo credit: eftm.com.au

With production of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore coming to an end, our friends down under have been searching for their next high performance patrol vehicle. The Mustang was their first choice with its sizeable boot, torque-laden V8 and well-regarded factory support. Unfortunately - and somewhat surprisingly - the GT failed the Australian Highway Patrol’s high performance test with Jalopnik reporting that the car overheated after just three minutes of “intense driving.”

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The GT passed a brake test at the New South Wales (NSW) Police Driving Academy, but the automatic gearbox - a requirement for all vehicles on the force - put an end to proceedings, forcing the car into a “limp home mode” mid-way through a performance test. Business Insider Australia reported that the car even had to be taken to a local Ford dealership for repairs.

The Ford Mustang Failed The Australian Highway Patrol’s High Performance Test Because It Overheated

So it looks like the Ford is well and truly out of the running, but the NSW Police Department still has the Volvo S60 Polestar and Volkswagen Golf R Wagon on its shortlist. The car that they eventually choose will have to take part in Operation Freeflow, an operation designed to deter traffic offences by intimidating drivers to slow down. Granted, the Golf and Volvo will be better dynamically, but is there anything scarier than seeing a V8 Muscle car in your rear-view?

So this got us thinking. Can we help choose a car for the NSW Police Department? What automatic, high-performance car would you guys like to see join the force? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: EFTM and Business Insider Australia.

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Comments

Muhammad Haqy Aunoora

How about Mercedes-AMGs? I mean they’re fast, intimidating, and V8 powered too

03/22/2016 - 08:49 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

cough just use the Ecoboost cough

03/22/2016 - 09:24 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Ours use skoda fabia’s rapid’s, golfs, polos, G-wagons, impreza’s,.. And many more.. I don’t know why they vary too much

03/22/2016 - 09:28 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

This is why america is cool cause they got slow crown vicks, they are somewhat outrunnable

03/22/2016 - 11:08 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Camaros?

03/22/2016 - 09:52 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

I work for Ford. They make crappy cars, sorry to tell you that. I used to love the old mustang but the last generations are bullst. And Ford is trying so hard to bring high-tech st to hillbillies, their staff is full of idiots and the ECOboost engine is just crap crap crap. I’ve driven lots of models from ford, they are cheap, the built quality is awful and they brag about a bluetooth connection like it’s some kind of tech from the future. Ford is very lucky people still buy their crap. The fiesta ST and focus ST are decent cars, the focus RS looks great on paper but trust me it’s awful and it does not work. The drift mode will overheat the double-clutch-differential (that 4x4 gibberish they invented) and you can only race the car for like 10 minutes then it just overheats or brakes down or doesn’t give you power when in racing or drift mode. Sorry guys, Ford used to build nice cars about 25 years ago but now even the RANGER is crap and gets it’s ass kicked by cheaper, better built japanese or european cars.

03/22/2016 - 10:08 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

So there’s no surprise that the mustang did not pass the test. We had one at the office, the ecoboost is absolutely awful and the materials used inside are just so so cheap. I was really expecting it to break down. I used to have a Focus with the ECOboost start-stop engine, it overheated and it would stop in the middle of the intersection for no reason. I went to the dealership, they fixed it, 2 weeks later at about 4000rpm the engine blew up. As for the interior, not even decent. They only had one light in the middle of the roof, the boot had no strap or hole to close it so you would always get dirty. sorry guys, waiting your opinions

03/22/2016 - 10:11 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

How about take line from internet car fans buy a gtr?

03/22/2016 - 10:44 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Might I suggest a caterham 7 with machine guns on the fenders?

03/22/2016 - 11:14 |
8 | 0
Nathan Torraville

NSW Police should use the new Chrysler 300 SRT! Its fast, intimidating, four doors, big trunk, spacious… It’s perfect!

03/22/2016 - 11:38 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Are we sure this isn’t the mustang that died during f&f filming?

03/22/2016 - 11:46 |
4 | 0