Believe it or not, police cars don’t always have to be Crown Vics or Chevy Impalas. Do your research, and you’ll find that many police departments from around the globe have provided their officers with some pretty cool cruisers. From Porsches to Smart cars and everything in between, travel the world and you’ll see great police cars and awful police cars. We’re sticking with the great ones, and 16 of them can be seen below – A random number yes, but it was impossible to leave any of them out..

Germany – Porsche 911 Carrera



There’s no denying the beauty of a Porsche 911 Carrera, and the silver and green of the German Polizei only adds to the car’s sex appeal. Sure, the addition of a pair of flashing blue lights to the roof don’t do it any favors, but with a top speed of 177mph, who cares?

Germany – Brabus CLS Rocket



Okay so it’s not as ostensibly sexy as the 911 Carrera, but the beauty of this beast is within: based on the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the 6.2L engine and immense acceleration (0-100kmh in 3.2 seconds) leave little room for error for German criminals.

Austria – Porsche 911



Yes we’ve already got a 911 in the list, but this is all about the looks: the blue and red just makes this car look uber smooth, and makes me want to take a holiday to Vienna just in the vain hope of seeing one cruising the city streets. Beautiful.

Italy – Lamborghini Gallardo



If you want your police cars to say “we’ll always be faster than you”, than you can’t really go wrong with a Lamborghini Gallardo. The car sits ultra low, conveying immense pace, and the mechanics are there to match. Donated to the Italian Polizia on the force’s 152nd anniversary, the two cars are unsurprisingly saved for special situations.

Italy – Smart



From the very special to the very normal. I’d wager you’re much more likely to see a Smart police car in Rome than a Gallardo, and with good reason. Smart cars seem to be perfect for patrolling, although not for high speed chases, perhaps…

USA – Dodge Magnum



If you imagine a police car in the USA then the Dodge Magnum is the sort of automobile that comes to mind. It’s big, bulky and powerful. It also stands out, given the stark combination of black and white used by a number of US state police forces.

USA – Dodge Viper



The Dodge Viper is all about acceleration, and in that respect it’s perfect for quick reactions and high speed chases. With a top speed of 264kmh, it’s enough to put the fear into any criminal.

USA – Corvette C6



The Corvette C6 is another sporty, agile and impressively fast car that is sure to keep criminals on their toes. A 6L engine and a front engine give this car impressive power – great for keeping the mean streets of downtown free from crime.

USA – Ford Mustang



This is perhaps the most famous American police car, seen in movies and on tv shows all over the world. Not as high-end as some of the vehicles on this list, but oh-so reliable: originally chosen as it’s lightweight compared to other sedans, the Mustang has won the trust of police departments all over the US.

UK – Lotus Exige



The 140mph Lotus Exige graced the Sussex Constabulary in 2007 and is only driven by drivers who have had months of special training. Despite its speed and acceleration (0-60mph in just over four seconds) the car is only used for promotional purposes, and is taken to events to promote police activities.

Australia – Alfa Romeo GT



Perhaps the key word here is stealth: the GT looks similar to a lot of other cars, but has the power necessary for police needs. The slick design used by the Aussie police force keeps the cars almost unnoticeable (apart from the lights on the roof, that is).

Netherlands – Spyker C8 Spyder



Is there any mode of transport the Dutch don’t make cool? First the bike, now police cars. Aside from looking awesome, the C8 Spyder’s engine contains 600bhp and has a top speed of 300kmh. Not too shabby.

Romania – Lotus Evora S



This isn’t a bad car for the police in one of Europe’s poorer countries. The Lotus Evora S is a UK built car that packs 276hp from a 3.5L Toyota engine. With a top speed of 261kmh it’s bound to catch the eye on the streets of Bucharest.

South Africa – Lamborghini Gallardo



Yes, yes it’s another Lamborghini Gallardo… but how can we not include the South African police’s Gallardo with that colour scheme on display? It looks like it’s escaped from the desert further up the continent. It’s definitely got that cool African vibe.

USA – Hummer H2



You can’t have four American cars on any list without at least one of them being massive. And so it is with the Hummer H2. Essentially a people carrier for cops, this beast of a car is high-end in terms of criminal catching technology, giving crooks little chance of staying free.

Germany – Audi R8 GTR



At this stage I have to say I think the German Polizei have won this little battle of awesome police cars. Not only with the Carrera above, but also the Audi R8 GTR – my personal favourite car on this list. The 104in wheelbase, 5.2L engine and 299kmh top speed combine to give the German crime-hunters some pretty big power.