Aufregender neuer Job für den Honda Civic Type R. Künftig ist er ein vollständiges Mitglied der New South Wales Police Force in Australien. Natürlich wäre das derzeit wohl beste Hot Hatch schnell genug, um Verbrecher bei wilden Verfolgungsjagden das Fürchten zu lehren. Allerdings wird es dazu nicht kommen. Denn der schnellste Civic dient als Teil der Eyewatch Social Media Kampagne der australischen Cops. Diese soll helfen, dass sich die Bevölkerung besser an den Umgang mit der Exekutive gewöhnt.
Eins, Zwei Polizei
Honda Australien spendete der NSW Police Force den Type R für 12 Monate. Optisch steht er den "richtigen" Polizeiautos des Staates in nichts nach. Er verfügt sogar über eine Sirene. Die Polizei von New South Wales möchte den Civic zu großen öffentlichen Events und Schulen bringen. Die Hoffnung: Auf diese Weise junge Menschen anzusprechen und sie besser daran zu gewöhnen mit der Polizei zu interagieren.
"Das auffällige Design des Fahrzeugs wird hoffentlich ein großartiger Eisbrecher für Gesprächsstarts sein und mehr Menschen, vor allem jüngere Leute, dazu bringen, sich im Umgang mit ihrer lokalen Polizei entspannter zu fühlen.", sagt New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Cassar in der offiziellen Mitteilung zu diesem speziellen Type R.
Der aktuellen Civic Type R hat einen 2,0-Liter-Turbo-Vierzylinder mit 320 PS und 400 Nm Drehmoment. Er ist ausschließlich als Handschalter zu haben und kommt serienmäßig mit dreifach härteverstellbarem Fahrwerk. Für das Modelljahr 2019 kriegt der Hot Hatch ein überarbeitetes Infotainmentsystem. Außerdem wachsen die Cupholder.
Die Polizei in New South Wales hat eine gewisse Tradition, was coole und ungewöhnliche Fahrzeuge betrifft. 2016 beispielsweise nutzte man einen Lexus RC F um für mehr Sicherheit auf den Straßen zu werben. Ein Jahr später füllte ein Audi S7 die gleiche Rolle aus.
Quelle: New South Wales Police via Twitter
Bildergalerie: Honda Civic Type R New South Wales Police Australien
Honda Civic Type R Joins the NSW Police Force
Honda’s Civic Type R hot hatch the latest recruit to join NSW Police Force
Civic Type R wrapped in full ‘Police’ livery will be used to promote the Eyewatch social media initiative and engage with the public at a local community level
SYDNEY, March 13, 2019 – Honda’s multi award-winning Civic Type R high-performance hatch has just earned a new set of stripes after being recruited by the NSW Police Force.
As part of a 12-month sponsored partnership between Honda Australia and the NSW Police Force, the Civic Type R has joined the Eyewatch social media initiative, which has become an important communication tool for connecting people with their local police and encouraging them to be active participants in making their communities safer.
While the Civic Type R already has a powerful road presence, for its new role it has been wrapped in full ‘Police’ livery, including the distinctive ‘Eyewatch’ program logo, which is sure to see it attract plenty of attention wherever it goes throughout New South Wales over the coming months.
“Honda Australia is delighted to partner with the NSW Police Force and take an active role in raising awareness of the Eyewatch program to help make our communities safer,” said Honda Australia Director, Mr. Stephen Collins.
“The Civic Type R has been engineered from the ground up to deliver the most rewarding driving experience in the hot hatch segment. It has proven to be immensely popular with customers, enthusiasts and the motoring media, so we’re positive the NSW Police Force will find it to be a great community engagement tool.
“At Honda we believe in the power of helping others, so this sponsored partnership with the NSW Police Force aligns seamlessly with work of The Honda Foundation and its goal of making a difference in the lives of people through giving back to the community that supports them.”
The Eyewatch program was created in 2012 to connect local communities with their police via social media. It has been an outstanding success in NSW with almost 1 million people connected via Facebook using over 70 Eyewatch pages daily.
Police use Eyewatch to offer crime prevention and safety tips, seek community assistance to help locate missing or wanted people, and provide advice and information on local crimes, incidents and emergencies.
Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM, Commander of the NSW Police Force Capability, Performance and Youth Command, said the addition of the sponsored Honda Civic Type R will allow Eyewatch officers to get out and about and raise awareness of the program, and engage with local communities, especially youth.
“The generosity of Honda Australia in providing this sponsored vehicle for 12 months also means it has the added benefit of being no cost to the tax payer.
“The eye-catching design of the vehicle will hopefully be a great conversation starter while on display and get more people, especially younger people, more comfortable with approaching their local police,” Assistant Commissioner Cassar added.
Leveraging its status as one of the most acclaimed hot hatches on the market today, the Civic Type R will be used by the NSW Police Force Eyewatch program at schools and community events across New South Wales throughout 2019.
Its first official duty as a new police recruit will be at the annual Fairfield Police and Community Expo on Saturday 16th March 2019 at Emerson Reserve in Wetherill Park, where it will be on display with various units of the NSW Police Force, including Local Police, Polair, Mounted Police, Dog Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol Cars and the Tactical Operations Unit.