Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Government/Legal, Green, Police/Emergency
Carbon Motors releases first video of E7 cop car and in-car gadgets
Law enforcement officers have more reasons to be excited with Carbon Motors' release of a few more images and a video of its purpose-built Police car. The E7, as it is currently known, looks to be much more capable than the thousands of Crown Vics, Impalas and Chargers currently roaming our streets due to its rather amazing list of specifications and gadgetry. Included are a diesel engine capable of accelerating to 65 in under 7-seconds, composite body panels attached to an aluminum structure, 360-degree built-in police-duty LED lights, suicide rear doors with hose-out passenger compartment and a separate front compartment with plenty of techno-goodies. Radar, LoJack, an automatic license plate recognition system, radiation and biological threat detectors and Carbon's exclusive On-board Rapid Command Architecture (ORCA) which features a large touch-screen display plus keyboard (see above), are all included. We think that this sucker should get the job done rather nicely. Click here for a short video of the E7 in action.
Gallery: Carbon Motors E7 police car
[Source Fox News Chicago via Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Justin 5:37PM (10/15/2008)
I love living in the future.
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MikeW 5:59PM (10/15/2008)
Would that be in 1984?
Geeky1 6:52PM (10/15/2008)
+1 Mike
Duders 2:02AM (10/16/2008)
"automatic license plate recognition system"
Police state incoming.
Xander 5:43PM (10/15/2008)
Wouldn't this make a much better Taxi cab as well if they left out all the extras? Maybe a little pricier but the diesel engine would pay off in heavy city driving.
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Egon 5:46PM (10/15/2008)
"It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?"
Okay, at least now I've seen video of the vehicle actually in motion. All of the still photos I've seen have had a sort of fake photoshoppy look to them.
Overall, I think Jake and Elwood would approve.
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Thameth 3:02AM (10/16/2008)
Haha, so far all but two photo's were 3D renderings. Of course they didn't look real, because they weren't LOL
Timsvtgen1 5:51PM (10/15/2008)
Back to the Future called. They want their movie prop back. Thanks.
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Frost 12:06AM (10/16/2008)
But it's not a Ford Probe!
Chris 5:52PM (10/15/2008)
Meh. Cool as hell but this looks like an answer to a question no one asked...nor do I suspect that many agencies will be able afford these in great numbers.
And let's not get into the repair/maintenance cost(s) because of limited production...then again we (actually, I) don't have many specifics at this point. Ramble ramble...
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Ben 7:23PM (10/15/2008)
Not to mention, what happens when these reach the end of their useful life? There are very few departments that could afford to simply scrap them, and they'd have a tough time selling one of these to the public at auction without huge expense "de-policifying" it, if they even could. I'm not buying Carbon Motors stock, that's for sure.
RJ 7:44PM (10/15/2008)
Especially considering the state of the current economy.
I think Carbon will find out the hard way, like Tesla, just how hard it is to design and produce a vehicle. There's just no way they can even come close to matching the fleet pricing GM/Ford/Chry offers on their police package cars.
Then there's the question if the car is even needed. Increased public safety awareness has made those hollywood style high speed pursuits all but a thing of the past. Is this thing any better at cruising around the city streets than a Charger or Crown Vic?
Patrick 9:29PM (10/31/2008)
Carbon Motors plans on buying these vehicles back and recycling them for departments. I'm doubtful, though, that these will catch on or that Carbon will actually stay in business. Too many good 'ol boys that love their Vic's too much. As usual, American's are more worried about a track record than change. Good idea, wrong country to sell to. They are going to have to sell overseas and create some stats before they MAY catch on here.
tankd0g 5:58PM (10/15/2008)
I think most cop shops would rather spend the money on a army surplus armored personnel carrier for knocking down grandma's door in the search for the marijuanas.
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Patrick 6:00PM (10/15/2008)
Composite body panels, big LCD screens, How much are these supposed to cost?
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That One Person 5:58AM (10/16/2008)
I thought an article mentioned it's supposed to be priced around the CV and Charger. I don't see that happening. If I am not mistaken, departments get CVs for next to nothing.
Patrick 6:03PM (10/15/2008)
Just to further add to my comment above, if Carbon Motors had spent their money on modding Crown Vics w/ these special features, they'd be be selling pre-modded cars to PD's already.
With Ford not interested in revamping the Crown Vic at all, there does seem to be a large void that someone will need to fill in the near future.
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Hike15 6:06PM (10/15/2008)
i would say thats what the charger is for, but chrysler isnt redoing that either
then theres the impala but chevy wont do much with that either
i think this is a good time for a new cop car
Torrent 6:03PM (10/15/2008)
So that's what Ford's Fusion Nav Screen will look like.....
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Mi key 6:10PM (10/15/2008)
This is pretty awesome. Someone said that this seem to be an answer to a question nobody asked. I would say this is the opposite; it seems like a Patrolman's/Police Departments dream. Its got all the goodies most officers (except for the suicide doors) could want. The only hesitation would be maintenance and cost of the vehicles.
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