Skoda’s police programme is about to power up to full electric play. The Superb is also about to go on paw patrol. And some other examples are going up in the world.

NEW investigations have opened up for Skoda in respect to its massive Police fleet contract.

One is with electric. Skoda New Zealand has today confirmed it has provided the force with the Enyaq iV (above), the make’s first electric car presently subject to a public pre-release promotion culminating with national unveilings on February 25, to kick off an investigation into their potential recruitment.

There’s potential as police in the United Kingdom already use the car. Skoda NZ has two Enyaqs for the NZ force and they’re set to undergo the same pre-selection process undertaken to determine the Superb’s mettle, local managing director Rodney Gillard says.

“Among the cars we have brought in for our pre-sale campaign are two vehicles for the police to start their testing. Whether they take two or one, I’m not sure.

“But the aim is to put it (Enyaq iV) through a full procedure, including track testing.”

The assigned vehicles are essentially to the same specification as the public-bound variant, whose price and specification detail – including battery size - is subject to an embargo, lifting at midday on February 25 to time with a national public reveal at dealerships, the point from which orders are being accepted, for delivery later this year.

Police already have some plug-in electric versions of the Superb wagon in Prime One – cop-speak for patrol-level - operational use and recently bought some fully electric Hyundais, but for community relations staff. If Enyaq passes muster, the idea is that it will also be on the front line.

“If they decide to utilise Enyaq in the future is another discussion. What they are looking at for the moment is the car’s capabilities and how it works with the normal procedures a police first response vehicle needs to do.

“From there it would go to production – what spec and trim they need,. Both the Czechs and Skoda NZ would then sit down and work what works best to fulfil as a first response vehicle. That’s down the track.”

Enyaq is already well into a similar evaluation with the British police. “They’ve been doing a lot of groundwork and we’re really excited about that. We are working really closely with Skoda UK and when, and if, that data is available it will come to us.”

Electric has become a must-consider for Police, so Gillard was not surprised or miffed when the Ioniq 5 usage was announced late last year. “The police have got a big job to do … they have a very big portfolio of vehicles, for many reasons, first response and others.

“What their future programme is and what vehicles they chose and how they test is not something I’m privy to.”

Meantime, there’s more work – and a rework - for the Superb.

The new job is delivery of duty-ready bespoke vehicles for the police dog unit; that handover is set to happen in April. The vehicle coming into service, to replace time-worn Holden Captivas and much-older rear-drive Commodores, has taken its lead from an edition employed successfully in the UK, but with some further modifications to best suit the NZ working condition.

“Again, they’ve worked with Skoda UK and done quite a lot of analysis. The (NZ) Police fleet department headed by Inspector Brian Yanko has been introduced to the UK counterparts.

“The UK has a very, very good police dog unit using the Superb and they have been able to swap IPs, out of that the (NZ) Police and their specialist vehicle outfitter have worked through a long and extensive programme to create an incredibly great offering.”

The Skoda Kodiaq crossover was also considered for conversion for the dog unit, but ultimately Superb won for offering better packaging and overall roominess.

It’s much more than just putting a caged area into the boot. Proper kennels are built into that space. The UK design has temperature monitoring and a front escape hatch, allowing the dogs to evacuate the vehicle quickly if needs be. There’s also a storage area for safety equipment in front of the kennels.

Aside from provisions for the canine coppers, the UK dog vehicles also get features specific to the humans who will operate it. There’s 360-degree emergency services lighting and an engine run lock system, which keeps the engine running when the key has been removed. That means the engine can essentially be used as a generator, powering lights, radios or computers without running down the battery.

Also, the make has responded to a need, raised by officers in the central South Island, about the Superb requiring toughened under-body protection, in two levels.

Initially, the Superbs that have felt the bash from running on the region’s hard terrain are being offered toughened sump guards, after some sumps were damaged.

But, as a longer-term solution, Skoda has begun making - for those areas that need it - a Superb n NZ Police specification that’s effectively in the make’s Scout equipment level, basically their answer to the Subaru Outback.

Scout editions, which have sold in NZ in previous versions of Octavia, also now delivers as a Superb choice in many markets, including NZ. The provision delivers raised ride height and a suspension tune commensurate with potential for driving away from seal. The fit-out also provides additional underbody protections.

Incidents in Otago, where cars have been damaged, though not mortally, made news in the region’s newspaper this week.

Gillard says he doesn’t know the details of any incidents, but acknowledges that it is the nature of Policing that sometimes vehicles by necessity are put into extreme situations.

“Some of those situations and the decisions drivers have to make must be pretty hard at times. I don’t think any brand in the world would have a car that is absolutely perfect for first response.

“Some sumps have been damaged. We have repaired or replaced them. There has been a story, now, about modifications to the vehicle.

“There are actually two things going on. When we were able to secure the Police contract, Skoda NZ worked very closely … and part of the information from Police was how much weight they carry in their cars.

“We gave that information then to the Czechs and they said ‘we can do something about that’ to support the vehicles. They have changed the specification to include a raised vehicle with a suspension update.

“It’s very similar to Superb Scout in that it has additional protection underneath. That’s now offered to the Police and they’ve been very excited about that. Those cars are being produced for them.

“It’s not every single Superb because it’ll come down to how that car will be used and over what terrain.

“The suspension upgrade wasn’t because of sumps.” In respect to that, Skoda can also provide a steel sump that is sturdier than the original item. Police will decide which cars require them.