Los Angeles Sheriffs Getting Electric Mini Coopers
LA County Sheriffs stuck driving Crown Vics are about to be left feeling tragically un-hip. Their Board of Sups just approved a deal with BMW to lease 17 fully electric MINI Coopers.
Approved on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will lease the MINI Es for only $10 a month. With a market lease rate of $850, automaker BMW offered up the bargain price in exchange for deputy’s feedback.
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Um, BMW, I too will give you feedback for $10 MINI E lease.
I’m sure the MINI’s will sport the standard police flare, but my vote is for the pimped out–and unrelated–version above by Agent Provocateur. Not that the 60’s style isn’t cool too.
BMW wants feedback for how the MINI Es drive and handle on Los Angeles County road conditions, Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said. You know, like can they chase Ford Broncos and stuff like that.
On top of the discount price–which constitutes a gift to the county–MINI USA will also be installing charging stations and handling all vehicle maintenance and repairs. The MINI Es will be accompanying the police force’s full size Crown Vics, Caprice Classics, and more recently Dodge Chargers.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the gift as it supports the county’s strategic goal of promoting environmental responsibility. The cars will be used for administrative, recruitment, volunteers, and other specialized units.
“It’s clean-energy, it’s cost-effective and it could prove to be a boon for the county,” Whitmore said.
The MINI E model is currently only available to drivers in the U.S. as part of a field trial. And only 23 of the 450 Mini E prototypes have been delivered thus far.
While here in the States a MINI cop car might sound a bit ridiculous, it’s not that odd of an idea. The Cooper has a long history of being a police vehicle. Even Oregon’s Tualatin Police Department has one!
Here are some MINI cop cars, both real and fake:
Source: AllCarsElectric
Photos: AROnline, MalaysiaMiniLover, Classic Vehicles on Flickr, CincinnatiMINI, PoliceMINICooper, ForBunk on Flickr
Imagine what the police chases will be like!
I’m thinking The Italian Job with the boot on the other foot.
[...] over like lead balloons. I guess they are not as "in demand" as BMW would have liked. Los Angeles Sheriffs Getting Electric Mini Coopers : Gas 2.0 __________________ ‘05 R50
…and for the American recovery… the BUY AMERICAN… in honor of American jobs… the built by Americans… middle class America… the American made automobile choices on the table for the L.A. County Sherriff’s Department were….?? Whom? What?
Well, well, well…..technically, isnt this an insult to detroit, and in extension, to American jobs….to use foreign vehicles for gov’t contracts…
In retaliation, i suggest stop buying apple products….they are from california….
Isn’t this the same dork that limited the firepower of the police force to “set an example” for gun control that caused the fiasco where the body armor guy couldn’t get taken out until the police went to the local firearm shop and “borrowed” some better weapons?
[...] Source Gas2.org [...]
Uhhh, wtf??? Cali is in a gigantic Debt black hole. Solution: Buy Expensive Cars?
I don’t know why you say they’ll be “feeling tragically un-hip.” I’ve driven a MINI for almost five years now, and it’s the hippest car I’ve ever owned.
Leasing for 10$ a month is not expensive you moron.
Wow, pathetic how some people are unable to read these days.
Ford ain’t leasing those Crown Vic’s to the LASD for $10 nor are they providing support. Dodge? $10? LOL, hardly.
BUY AMERICAN for $10/month? Good freaking luck.
Now, let’s see how that helps LASD save money. Let’s assume they go towards community service, parking enforcement, etc. No Ford, Dodge lease at $10+, instant savings there. Free charging stations, whereas Ford and Dodge do not provide gas stations for free.