Italy's armed police now have armoured Jeep Grand Cherokees

We’re used to seeing the Italian police roll around in Alfa Romeos or Lamborghinis. Today, though, the Carabinieri has revealed its latest patrol car. A Jeep.

Jeep’s affiliated with the Fiat group these days, so we ought not to be surprised. And it’s no ordinary patrol car. The 19 Grand Cherokees snapped up by Italy's Ministry of Defence-led police force are armoured.

The windows, tyres and body panels can all withstand attack, while the suspension has been reinforced, presumably to handle the extra weight. A 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine with 187bhp provides the Grand Cherokee’s motive force.

“The end result is a tactical vehicle capable of ensuring top-level safety for servicemen and women while offering outstanding mechanical reliability to successfully take on any mission,” we’re told. Stop sniggering about FCA reliability at the back. You’ve got the Carabinieri to answer to. They're armed.

The first one is now on the streets of Rome, with all 19 in anti-terrorism service by the end of the year.

Reckon it’s cool? Or should they have used an Alfa Romeo Stelvio? The Carabinieri could have had a 503bhp Quadrifoglio then…