Kia Stinger police pursuit vehicles hit Queensland

Queensland Police Service has adopted its first fleet of Kia Stinger V6 vehicles to replace the outgoing Ford and Holden pursuit vehicles.

Decked out in police trim, complete with a blue-and-white livery, sirens and flashing lights, the rear-wheel drive performance saloon is already patrolling Queensland streets with the Road Policing Command.

According to Kia, a total of 50 police-issue Stingers will be rolled out between now and December this year.

Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) chief operating officer says this is a watershed moment for the brand's image.

The decision to take on the Stinger for the Road Policing Command was not a difficult one, according to police minister Mark Ryan.

"It was not a big step at all once we had begun the investigation process," said Mr Ryan.

"Reading what the experts had to say, and seeing how efficiently the Stinger was changing minds and perceptions once people had been exposed to it... it was not a difficult decision.

The rear-wheel drive performance saloon is already patrolling Queensland streets with the Road Policing Command.

"You often hear police ministers talking about providing the best equipment for those at the coal face. In this case I truly believe we have been able to do that."

In testing the Stinger for potential police use, the South Korean sedan underwent a desktop evaluation, followed by a track performance assessment and then an operational evaluation conducted under "real-world" conditions.

Kia Motors Australia (KMAu) chief operating officer Damien Meredith said he was pleased QLD police will use its vehicle, saying it is a watershed moment for the brand's image.

"This level of public exposure and endorsement from a high-profile government utility is something which wouldn’t have been on the radar just a few years ago," said Mr Meredith.

According to Kia, a total of 50 police-issue Stingers will be rolled out between now and December this year.

"It is just a beginning, but a very important one for us".

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