EXCLUSIVE: Tesla Model 3 cameras catch dramatic Sydney police chase

A dramatic police chase has been captured on multiple cameras by a Tesla Model 3 being tested by EV Central.

The chase happened at 11.24pm on Warringah Road on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and involved two cars fleeing from police. From our brief glimpse those cars looked like a white Mercedes-Benz ML and a bronze or grey Volkswagen Golf.

But before we saw the fleeing vehicles there was a heavy police presence for a pursuit that appeared to have started many kilometres back.

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Moments before the police chase drama unfolded around our Model 3 we came across two police cars stopped on a road with a posted limit of 70km/h. Upon rounding a bend there was a police van and ute blocking two of the three east-bound lanes.

Along with other traffic we slipped past slowly in the only lane remaining.

Seconds later the flashing lights of a Chrysler 300 SRT Core highway patrol car approached at speed. It was following the Mercedes and VW.

As the Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen approached the stationary police cars, each slipped through a gap in the centre median strip and began driving on the wrong side of the road. We estimate they were travelling at close to 100km/h as they passed us.

Within seconds the highway patrol car appeared to cease the pursuit, presumably because of the danger to other road users. A car travelling the opposite direction was lucky to avoid a head-on crash.

Shortly after the Mercedes-Benz brakes hard – activating the emergency flashing brake lights in the process – and clambers over the median strip back onto the correct side of the road. The Volkswagen turned back on to the left of the divided road by slipping through a gap in the centre divider.

Not that the chase stopped. The highway patrol car and at least three other police cars continued to follow the fleeing cars, each of which showed no signs of stopping.

However, the police were following without flashing lights. They even stopped at a red light.

They continued north up Forest Way and not long after a police helicopter was heard hovering in the area.

Our Model 3 was a Standard Range Plus, which comes fitted with eight cameras for monitoring other traffic and providing driver assistance functionality.

Four of those cameras can record vision out of the front, rear and each side of the car. The footage can be downloaded to a USB.

The car we tested was one of the new Chinese-made Model 3s, which has a different battery and minor tweaks as part of a 2021 update. Click here to read the full review.

Our Tesla Model 3 was supplied by AGL, which now offers EV subscriptions. The Model 3 Standard Range Plus is available from $420 per week.