Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue has deployed the first Škodas on its fleet with a fresh delivery of 21 Kodiaq SUVs.

The Kodiaq SUVs are the first Škodas to join the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue fleet

Fully prepared for duty by a Škoda-approved converter, the cars will be used for flexible duty officer transport duties when attending operational incidents.

The vehicles were chosen for their spacious interior – particularly the large and flexible boot – and specified with the 200hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel with DSG transmission and all-wheel drive.

The cars have been converted by Pressfab Evo to meet the fire and rescue service’s specific requirements, including fire extinguishing apparatus plus the fitment of blue lights and fully integrated communications equipment.

Colin Carter, fleet operations manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have opted for a fleet of Kodiaqs largely due to the amount of space on offer inside. The large boot has enough room for all of the equipment required by our flexible duty fire officers, and the option of having the cars converted by Škoda’s approved converters prior to delivery makes it much easier for us to get the vehicles into service.”

Škoda’s bespoke emergency service converters can specify its cars for ambulance, police, and fire and rescue teams across the UK. This includes integration of the emergency services’ communications platform within the infotainment touchscreen and 360-degree lighting. Individual conversion requirements can also be catered for by its approved specialist converters.