Volvo launches new FlexiFuel police cars

The long arm of the law will soon be seen outstretched behind the urgent wheels of the new Volvo V70 2.5-litre FT, yet will avoid the environmental lobby's finger-wagging thanks to its fleet cars deploying E85 ethanol fuel capability to uphold the law-enforcers keen environmental policies.

Volvo chose the GreenFleet Arrive 'n' Drive event at Rockingham this week as the venue to debut its all-new V70 2.5-litre FlexiFuel Turbo (FT) police patrol car. A 200bhp, blues and twos carrying Volvo estate that combines all the pre-requisitional pursuit properties with an underlying capacity to reduce its CO2 emissions by 20% at the same time.

The V70 2.5-litre FlexiFuel Turbo isn't just the enemy of the criminal fraternity though, as it's being released to anyone with a valid drivers license as of June. Whilst combining all the Police-spec build quality, (minus the day-glo-faster stripes) the V70 2.5 FT is as clean as it's slippery thanks to its turbo-charged, yet FlexiFueled standing in the community.

Developed solely by Volvo - following a detailed brief outlined by the emergency services - the gist of FlexiFuel is to highlight both the manufacturer and the police forces' commitment to sourcing more environmentally-friendly ways of apprehending wrong-doers, by principally adopting E85 policies into its automotive applications.

FlexiFuel is one of Volvo's many innovations that address the role vehicles play in the changing climate. E85 is an alternate fuel that's made up of 85% bioethanol and 15% regular petroleum, and Volvo stresses that drivers of FlexiFuel cars will continue to enjoy the same output whether the vehicle is running on E85, petrol or any mix of either.

And there's no arguing that the Volvo V70 2.5FT isn't up to the job, seeing as it produces 221lb-ft of torque between 1500 – 4500rpm. Whilst it can't exactly be accused of plodding along with a top speed of 130mph and a 0 – 60mph time of 7.6 seconds.

Lining up alongside the new V70 FlexiFuel Turbo in the Volvo I.D parade, is the C30 SportsCoupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon, all giving visitors a first taste of the Swedish car manufacturers 1.8-litre FlexiFuel engine, as well as the V70 2.0-litre FlexiFuel estate model.