the drive

Dubai Lamborghinis and Vatican Golf Buggies: Cop Cars of the World

In an innovative and ever-so-slightly bizarre move, the Dubai police force have taken extreme steps to dissuade boy racers from thinking that speeding through the streets of the emirate would be a good idea. While sports cars can outrun most police cars, the latest addition to the Dubai police force can more than hold its own.

Ferrari FF Police Car in Dubai

The Ferrari FF, branded with the force’s trademark white and green colour scheme was unveiled by Dubai Police Leutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim outside the Burj al-Khalifa. The introduction ceremony took place in the shadow of the tallest building on the planet, and the scope and audacity of bringing a $300,000 sports vehicle into the police force felt suitably outlandish. The Ferrari is not the first unusual addition to the Dubai police force, with the $360,000 Lamborghini Aventador unveiled earlier in April 2013. Although the authorities claim that it is a necessary measure, it is easy to see why utilising such expensive and flash cars as a means of crime prevention can be seen merely as a means of demonstrating the massive wealth the emirate possesses.

Texan Subtly

It is not, however, the first extreme and unusual police car to grab the headlines. A Texas-based Sherriff requested GeigerCars build a custom Hummer for his daily activities. The controversial gas-guzzler was decked out in the iconic American black and white paint job, complete with the Texas county crest on the front doors.

Lamborghini gallardo Polizia Car!

Italian Flair

You can always turn to the Italians for the original touch of flair and fashion, with two Lamborghini Gallardos being donated to the force. The Lamborghinis came decked out in the Italian blue with a flash of white stripes down the side and the famous ‘POLIZIA’ branding. Sorry Dubai, but the Italians got there first.

Vatican Minimalism

Staying close by, in Vatican City, a very different type of police vehicle has often made its presence known. While typical police cars would obviously be out of place in between the nuns, priests and religious tourists, the Polizia instead use a vehicle much smaller and less intrusive to make their way through the sacred grounds. The Vatican Polizia vehicle looks to have more in common with a golf buggy than the flash Lamorghini Gallardos – suitably minimalistic for quickly covering ground in The Vatican.

Smart Czechs

The Czech Republic decided to meet the Italians somewhere in the middle, between Lamborghinis and golf buggies, choosing to use Smart Cars to patrol Prague. The Mestska Policie Smart Fortwo provided nifty travel through the winding Prague streets, although maybe the Emiratis have a point about not being able to catch speedsters. Maybe Ferraris are the way forward after all….

Author bio

Tony Stevens is an aspiring screenwriter with an interest in concept cars and art.

Since the first recognisable modern car was built in the early 1900s, manufacturers have been trying to give consumers affordable, functional and desirable automobiles. As we will see, many companies have missed the mark altogether instead producing a collection of cars that critics love to hate. Whilst there are many things that help to define a car as truly awful, taking into consideration factors like performance, reliability, style, safety and design this list will take us on a journey through the worst that the automotive world has to offer. For those who still think the Fiat Panda is bad, this top ten offers a sharp reality check, taking us through the very worst that car manufacturers have to offer.

1. The Robin Reliant
Made famous across the globe as the mode of transport favoured by Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses, this is a car that really deserves its own canned laughter soundtrack. With just three wheels, this car isn’t only asymmetrical it is dangerously unstable, tilting around corners and wobbling as it approaches speeds as daring as 50mph. The only upside to owning a monstrosity like this is that you can drive it on a motorcycle license.

Nissan Serena

2. Nissan Serena
Perhaps the name isn’t that familiar, but doubtless many will have ridden in one as they remain a very popular choice amongst taxi firms. A square box on wheels, not only is this car ungainly, it is impossible to get it to go anywhere near 60mph without the danger that it will fall to pieces.

3. Trabant
Another boxy delight, the Trabant is famous for being both noisy and toxic. With a two-stroke engine distracting bystanders with its raucous din, it is almost possible to overlook the fact that this car pumps out carbon monoxide quantifiable only in metric tonnes.

Skoda Estelle

4. Skoda Estelle
Confusingly for more recent generations, the Czech manufactured Skoda has a bad reputation it still struggles to shake. The laughing stock of the industry this Skoda has driven many to distraction. As a vehicle that not only looks terrible but has a loud and temperamental gearbox, handles dreadfully and continually breaks down, it is a testament to Skoda’s PR department that the car has managed to achieve a loyal following.

5. Ford Pinto
Light, inexpensive and practical the Ford Pinto has unfortunately gone down in history as one of the worst cars of all time due to its tendency to burst into flames when it was rear-ended. No matter how much money went into the design, no passenger enjoys a car that doubles as a barbeque.

Yugo

6. Yugo
Maybe unfairly, the words ‘Serbian-made’ probably don’t fill many with confidence yet the existence of the Yugo only serves to prove doubters correct. A remake of the Fiat which boasts performance every bit as bad as its build, its low price doesn’t detract from the fact that drivers often find the car crumbling around them as they drive.

7. Sensonic Saab 900
The product of a Swedish aerospace and defence company, the Saab suffers from some major design flaws. Possessed of a gearbox that is part manual and part automatic yet requires no input from a clutch pedal, parallel parking is more complicated than learning to fly a plane. However the excitement of a semi automatic gearbox made it a popular choice in the business car hire market.

8. 1972 Rolls Royce Corniche
Beautiful, elegant and majestic few would expect a Rolls to appear on a worst cars of all time list but this model – featuring a 6.75L V8 engine – was a huge lumbering albatross of a vehicle. With the brakes, steering and rear suspension controlled by a hydraulic system even the smallest technical problem would stop nearly 5000 lbs of metal dead in its tracks. A thrill ride for those who enjoy staring death in the eye.

9. 1991 Porsche Carrera RS
Designed as a limited edition model supposed to channel all the best aspects of a lightweight sports car, its handling characteristics are so dire it isn’t only a difficult drive, it is a dangerous one. A far cry from more recent incarnations of this model.

10. Lexus SC 430
Built by Toyota and sold by Lexus, even appearing in The Terminator does nothing to earn this car any credit. With terrible handling and front wheels that seem to be altogether independent of the vehicle, this car remains one of the worst of all time.