Following the high profile introduction of the gorgeous Lamborghini Gallardo ‘Polizia’ supercar, Italian police patrolling St Peter’s square over Christmas must have fallen through the floor when it was announced they would be receiving four brand-new Lamborghini cars to drive.

With the Italian nation showing mixed feelings towards the acquisition of the Gallardo (some think the money could have been better spent elsewhere in the fight against crime), the Vatican officers must have had some personal doubt towards this latest addition to the Polizia’s vehicle pool.

Indeed, their initial excitement was totally smothered when they received odd-looking, 2.5-meter-long electric golf carts.

The 5,5 bhp carts, powered by a 36-volt electric motor, arrived in service on Christmas Eve, last Friday, as the Pontiff, John Paul II, was symbolically lighting a candle for peace at his window, and just hours before he was to celebrate midnight mass. All this was on a day when the famous square was swollen even more so than usual by a huge influx of pilgrims arriving in Rome to celebrate the Christmas festival.

The four, battery-powered, golf carts, will assist the Italian police force's patrols, who normally have to cover the huge, cobblestone-covered square, which surrounds the world's largest Christian church, on foot.

Produced by Tonino Lamborghini, Ferruccio’s son who has created a name for himself in the leather, fashion and lifestyle industry, the golf carts are known as the ‘Street Model’ and have a range of 80 km (50 miles) before the batteries need recharging. In fact only two of the Polizia Lambo’s are in action at one time, with the other two left charging up their six Trojan T-105 6-volt 225-amp, heavy-duty batteries.

The Italian police force have in fact already got a number of these special Tonino Lamborghini's in service for city centres.

The two-seat carts are built alongside the 'Townlife' electric city car in a dedicated facility just down the road from the famous supercar maker's Bologna factory. The electric carts are popular amongst golfers, and have a strong distribution network in the US.
  

 
As one would expect from a vehicle bearing the famous name, performance is assured. Golf Cart Advisor magazine recently stated that "The pick-up is breathtakingly impressive, like coming off the line in a 5-speed sports car with a high-geared rear end."

"There is the sleekly, sporty, yet luxurious styling," the editors continued, before further commenting that the Lamborghini offering could well change the future face of golf course transportation, and that it was "like a golf cart on steroids."

Although the Street Model’s top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) is a far cry from the Gallardo’s performance, they are a great relief for the Vatican officers who otherwise have to do the patrol on foot – St Peter’s square being one of the world’s largest pedestrian areas.

With ‘Tonino Lamborghini’ script down the side and painted in striking ‘Polizia’ livery, the golf carts may also be used in high speed pursuits.

Chief of Italian police in charge of patrolling the square, Salvatore Festa, said, 

“Visitors to the St Peter’s square need not worry. The Lamborghinis will enable us to move quicker in possible pursuit situations.

“They also help the personnel, who no longer have to stand in the rain or take 25 minutes to walk the square’s perimeter.”

St Peter’s Basilica attracted huge numbers of Pilgrims on Christmas Eve for the traditional midnight mass, and as a result is always the centre of security concerns due to the church’s symbolic Christian value. 

All through the day, families descended on the square to admire a 32-meter-tall, 100-year-old Christmas tree sourced from the Italian Alps, which was placed next to a large nativity scene.

By Edd Ellison & James Granger