Photo/Illutration From right, the GT-R, Fairlady Z and NSX cars at the headquarters of the prefectural police expressway traffic unit in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, on Nov. 22 (Takuji Hiraga)

KANUMA, Tochigi Prefecture--Tochigi prefectural police may be the best equipped force in Japan to catch felons in high-speed car chases.

Some of Japan’s fastest sports vehicles are among the patrol car fleet of the department, including Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus LC500, Nissan Motor Co.’s GT-R and Fairlady Z, and Honda Motor Co.’s NSX.

The high-performance cars are operated by the expressway traffic unit based near the Kanuma Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. They are mainly used for patrols on the Tohoku and Kita-Kanto expressways and to promote police activities and raise traffic safety awareness.

The four luxury vehicles were all donated to the police department.

On Nov. 22, the GT-R emerged from the garage with a booming engine sound. Equipped with large wheels and low-profile tires, the vehicle features the logo of the Tochigi prefectural police department on its shining body.

“It builds up speed so quickly,” said Assistant Commander Yoshitaka Tokiwa. “It is so popular among officers that some of them even volunteer to serve as a driver for events.”

According to the prefectural police's administration section, the GT-R has an engine displacement of 3,800cc.

Donated by a company executive in Tochigi in 2018, the car is worth about 12 million yen ($105,500), including customizing fees.

The NSX, deployed in 2000, and the Fairlady Z, dispatched in 2007, were donated by their manufacturers.

The newest luxury addition, the Lexus LC500, was donated in 2020 by the company executive who had provided the GT-R.

The expressway traffic unit mainly uses the Toyota Crown sedan for patrols, which cover several hundred kilometers a day, or about 100,000 km a year.

The eye-catching vehicles are popular features at promotional events, although such activities have been curtained amid the prolonged pandemic, police said.

“We are required to show our traffic safety activities. We appreciate the presence of the luxury police cars," said Takeo Nozawa, assistant chief of the traffic planning section.

The Lexus, which is not used by the expressway traffic unit, attracted much attention when it was introduced at an event held in Nasu soon after its deployment.

Local police stations are having a hard time reserving the vehicle, Nozawa said.

“It created a buzz after it was introduced through the media and social networking websites,” he said. “We hope these exchanges help raise awareness on safe driving.”

The expressway unit had also used a Mustang Mach 1 manufactured by Ford Motor Co. for patrols over 11 years.

Painted black and white, the Mustang is currently on display in an exhibition room at the prefectural driver’s license center in Kanuma.

According to an explanation signboard, it was donated by the Tochigi prefectural branch of the National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Kyosairen) in 1973.

Sitting next to the Mustang is a six-seater Chevrolet convertible by General Motors Co. with an engine displacement of 4,600cc.

Purchased by the prefectural government, the Chevrolet had been used for 28 years since 1962 to escort the emperor when he visited the Nasu Imperial Villa in the prefecture.

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