Drive MileOne

There’s been a long standing tradition of automakers giving cars to local police departments in whatever areas they have facilities in and Volkswagen is no different.  Volkswagen of America has moved its headquarters from Michigan to Virginia and the Herndon police department has received a pair of new Passats – a modified sedan and wagon for use by the local authorities.

The standard 2.0-liter TSI (turbocharged and direct injected) inline-four has been beefed up for its new role, raising output from 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet to 250 hp and 299 lb-ft. The four-cylinder police vehicles get the larger brakes from the 3.6-liter V6 versions, as well as 18-inch wheels with Pirelli performance tires. FMS Automotive built special enclosures for the communications equipment to make it look like a standard Passat. Volkswagen has not given any indication whether it plans to get into the regular police vehicle market when the new U.S.-built Passat arrives next year.