Carbon Motors reports 10,000 pre-orders for diesel-powered E7 police car
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Jun 12th 2009 at 4:28PM 
Carbon Motors E7 - Click above for high-res image galleryAs it turns out, there's quite a backlog of pent up demand for a purpose-built police car. Who knew that law enforcement officers were so fed up with their current fleet of Ford Crown Vics, Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Impalas? Apparently, that would be Carbon Motors, which is now reporting an impressive 10,000 pre-orders for its diesel-powered E7 cruiser despite the fact that production isn't schedule to start until 2012.
We can understand the interest. Each E7 will boast an impressive lise of features like 360-degree built-in police-duty LED lights, suicide rear doors with hose-out rear passenger compartment and a separate front compartment with high-tech touches like 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 touchscreen display and keyboard.
Perhaps the best bit of all is the aluminum-intensive space frame construction with composite body panels, which keeps weight down low enough that the 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine with 300 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque can propel the E7 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 155 mph. Fuel economy is pegged at 28-30 miles per gallon, which is well above what any current police vehicles are likely to achieve.
Of course, before they can make good on any of those 10,000 pre-orders, Carbon Motors needs a place to build their wares. While the company has yet to make a decision, it has admitted that officials from Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and South Carolina have approached them with offers. Check out Carbon Motors' official statement after the jump for more details.
Gallery: Carbon Motors E7
[Source: Carbon Motors]
PRESS RELEASE:
Carbon Motors Surpasses 10,000 Reservations
We are thrilled to announce that we have now exceeded 10,000 production slot reservations for Carbon's 'E7'. The Company would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the hundreds of law enforcement agencies that placed those reservations from all across the country!
In addition to achieving this major milestone so soon, we would also like to thank members of the economic development communities in each of the following states for putting forth such thoughtful proposals and offers for the Carbon Campus: Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The team has literally met crowds of new Carbon Motors supporters and has formed many great new friendships in all of these states. Having to finally say 'yes' to 1 state and 'no' to 4 others will certainly be difficult – but senior representatives of all of these states have been extremely gracious nonetheless. Each state has assured us that they wish nothing but success for the Company, as it is in the best interests of the entire country.
William Santana Li, Carbon's Chairman and CEO, remarked that "no matter where we end up calling home, we'll always have these friends we can count on. That means a lot to us and will not be forgotten."
Rest assured that Carbon's executive team is meticulously evaluating each offer, and the Company is targeting a final decision to be announced sometime this summer.
# # #
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
iamhoff 4:35PM (6/12/2009)
Hell with all the plants that GM and Chrysler are closing, you think they could find someone willing to make an "attractive" offer. Can't wait to get one of these at an auction several years down the road. Has it been revealed who is supplying the drivetrain, or is Carbon doing it all in-house?
Reply
0tto 5:03PM (6/12/2009)
If I remember correctly these will be scrapped by Carbon at the end of their lives rather than auctioned, keeping it "police only."
Tourian 5:33PM (6/12/2009)
Thank God, I hope that's true. No more Five-Oh wannabes driving decommisioned cruisers.
Saxxon 6:22PM (6/12/2009)
I think its a great idea. Its about time police officers got a vehicle that was built to their specific needs. And its a good looking car to boot.
That being said, law enforcement is ran by the government. Now that Obama and his henchmen (UAW) own GM and Chrysler, will they allow their employees to buy from a competitor? Something tells me that they wont.
Of course, they could wait a few years, force Carbon Motors into bankruptcy, and then own that company as well.
So far, they've proven that they are not big fans of private enterprise.
tekd 10:56PM (6/12/2009)
lol Saxxon, they just bought plenty of cars at full price from Ford...more than from GM or Chrysler.
polo 12:34AM (6/13/2009)
We absolutely DO NOT need luxury police cruisers.
This is disgusting. These pigs shoot and taser to death with impunity, and now they're going to riding around 60miles an hour through neighborhoods in these things thinking their in MadMax or something.
Taxpayers pay their bills and any purchase of these "things" should be loudly protested.
Chris 1:21AM (6/13/2009)
You are an idiot polo. I would suggest you visit your local police department and ask for a few ride alongs. You are probably some angsty teenager that only looks at one side of the story, or the video of police officers tazing others after watching some video on youtube which only shows one side of the story. You really have no clue.
Your arguement about Carbon Motors not having a working prototype? Dead wrong. It appears you like to sit at your chair and just run your head. Go do some research and you will find a working vehicle that they have tested and took around the country. Your ignorance amazes me.
downtoearth 5:13AM (6/14/2009)
If this is true, this will be pure robbery of taxpayer money. What Carbon Motors didn't tell you is that diesel cars total costs of ownership are much higher than gasoline equivalents.
5-year TOTAL costs (depreciation, maintenance, repairs, refueling, taxes)
2004 VW Jetta 2.0 115HP $31,341 [1]
2004 VW Jetta TDI 90HP $34,396 [2]
2005 Mercedes E 320 $48,830 [3]
2005 Mercedes E320 CDI diesel: $51,417 [4]
So... much higher initial price + higher total costs = no wonder USA are going bust.
[1] tinyurl.com/kuba74
[2] tinyurl.com/ms6onb
[3] tinyurl.com/mpxlrj
[4] tinyurl.com/klplah
Kowell 4:37PM (6/12/2009)
The Pontiac G8 would make for a pretty sweet police cruiser. The car already exists and there is already a plant capable of building it.
Reply
VW GTi 4:47PM (6/12/2009)
At least for now. G8 production will end in a year. It would make a great cop car, though.
jinsei888 4:40PM (6/12/2009)
We'll believe it when we see it, Carbon Motors.
Reply
tuxchown 6:28PM (6/12/2009)
Vaporware.
Jared 8:28PM (6/12/2009)
+1!
I'll believe it when I see it. With municipalities being broke across the entire country, I have a hard time believing that police departments are willing to commit to a new police cruiser that costs twice what they are currently paying.
tekd 10:58PM (6/12/2009)
@Jared
I think I'm more worried those municipalities will decide to write more speeding tickets for 5 over to buy these shiny new cars.
polo 12:40AM (6/13/2009)
Exactly, what police station would grant money toward a car that won't even be out in 3 years, from a company that only has flashy animated pics to show? I wonder if these "pre-orders" were simply surveys they sent out asking theoretical questions about how many they'd buy with a limitless budget.
sashazur 5:04PM (6/12/2009)
Vaporware
Reply
Mr.Natural 4:47PM (6/12/2009)
What NO Donut holder ?? I'll belive it when i see it.
Reply
Kaveman 5:33PM (6/12/2009)
There is a huge tray for them just left of the cupholders :)
Pengwin 4:47PM (6/12/2009)
where is their 3.0 V6 sourced from? VW? ford?
Reply
letstakeawalk 5:15PM (6/12/2009)
Rumor says BMW?
http://autoindustrie.blogspot.com/2009/03/wicked-police-cars-pdrm-lancer.html