When Australian Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores kicked the bucket, one of the curious side-plots was whether police organisations on either side of the Tasman would replace Holden in particular with a fleet of cars from an alternative brand.
History tells us obviously that, for the most part, Holden was retained. But imagine an alternate universe where a manufacturer like Honda scored the gig, and garishly decorated Type Rs roamed the motorways ...
Well, for Aussies living in New South Wales, Type R police cars have become a reality — kind of.
The NSW Police Force have announced a 12-month sponsorship deal with Honda Australia, which has culminated in enforcement taking delivery of new FK8-gen Honda Civic Type R to use as a state-wide promotional tool.
Read more: 10 supercars the new Civic Type R can beat around the Nürburgring
Specifically, the 228kW/400Nm wild-winged four banger will be used as part of NSW Police's Eyewatch social media initiative — a programme designed to educate citizens on crime prevention and safety tips while simultaneously improving relations between local police and the community.
The Type R will make appearances at numerous public police displays, with the first being at the Fairfield Police and Community Expo tomorrow.
“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," said Honda Australia's Stephen Collins.
“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 'engagement tool' terminology is cringey to the ears, especially given that the new Type R would actually make for quite a good police car.
Sure, those bright red seats probably won't cope too kindly when met with the average sweaty, vomitous perp. But interior space is ample in the rear for adults, and there's plenty of room for contraband and weapons seizures in the boot.
The FK8's main vice as a cop car is probably cost, availability, and the likelihood of punctures with those thin rubber-band tyres. But oh well ... dreams are free.