AP1 for the boys in blue
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Volkswagen's LT 31based frontline ambulance — the API — which was developed jointly by VW's advanced engineering division and PAO Preparations of Aldbourne, Wiltshire, is to be offered to the Police and Fire Services as a rapid intervention vehicle.
The AP1 first appeared as a prototype in October 1985.
PAO Preparations is particularly enthusiastic about the conversion, which will be sold by VW with a factory warranty. "It is a better product than we have ever had," says managing director Steve Ashcroft. "It can carry everything the Range Rover can, and offer a small incident room as well as a 160kinihr performance," says Ashcroft.
In its high-roof, longwheelbase turbo-diesel form, the LT 31 has a load volume of 11.6m3 and a payload of around 1.5 tonnes. PAO'S own chargecooling conversion for the VW 76kW (102hp) six-cylinder turbo diesel engine is to be dropped, as VW feels the vehicle's 0-96Iun/h (060mph) acceleration time of 21.5 seconds comfortably exceeds the DHSS
guideline figure of 25 seconds.