Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fritz Henderson to Autoblog: Chevy Caprice is being looked at as "police application"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Ever since General Motors announced this spring that it was killing the Pontiac brand as part of its restructuring, fans of the Holden-developed G8 sedan have been clamoring to save it as a Chevrolet. After company officials repeatedly said over the past two months that no such thing would happen, Bob Lutz re-lit the fire last week in one of his first pronouncements after un-retiring. Lutz proclaimed that the G8 would indeed become a new Chevrolet Caprice.

During our first drive of the new Buick LaCrosse this week, we had the opportunity on one of the legs to ride with GM CEO Fritz Henderson, and we pressed him for more details on the Caprice plan. Unfortunately it turns out Henderson brought his portable fire extinguisher with him, telling us:
We've been looking at it for police applications. As for whether or not it's broader than police applications, I am not a believer in re-branding and re-badging. We've been talking about in terms of potential police applications and we'll leave it at that."
Henderson also threw a soaking wet blanket on the idea of adding production to Oshawa alongside the Camaro, saying that the cars will continue to be sourced from Australia. So, for the moment, it looks like Zeta sedan fans will probably have to be content with taking a Blues Brothers approach to the problem: Buying their next car as a decommissioned black-and-white.

[Image: GoAuto]

Fritz Henderson to Autoblog: Chevy Caprice is being looked at as "police application" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capricechevroletchevrolet capriceChevroletCapricechevychevy capriceChevyCapricecop carcop carsCopCarCopCarsfritz hendersonFritzHendersonGM CEOGmCeoHoldenpolice carpolice carsPoliceCarPoliceCarspontiacpontiac g8PontiacG8zetaWed, 15 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[STUDY: UK police officers confuse diesel and gas pumps four times a day, cost taxpayers £1 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/study-uk-police-officers-confuse-diesel-and-gas-pumps-four-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/study-uk-police-officers-confuse-diesel-and-gas-pumps-four-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/study-uk-police-officers-confuse-diesel-and-gas-pumps-four-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



British police have an expensive problem. It's not crime and it isn't corruption, it's much worse. The £1 million problem is stupidity. Over the course of three years, UK cops have on 4,709 occasions put the wrong fuel in their police cruisers. That's an average of four cars damaged per day, with damages of £6,500 a week. That's more than $1.6 million USD. Blimey.

Each time the wrong fuel is added, the very expensive fuel has to be drained, and in many cases engines have to be repaired. According to the Mirror, one force, The Met, had four times as expensive a problem as any other group, with £194,212 in damage ($316k USD) over three years. In one year alone, the pump-challenged bunch had 287 erroneous re-fuels from its 6,500 unit fleet at a taxpayer cost of £84,992 ($138k USD). That's a mis-fuel rate of .09%.

A group called TaxPayers' Alliance demanded fueling info under the Freedom of Information act from 52 forces in the UK. Eight forces rejected the request, and four more didn't respond. The public action group poured over data over a four month period to come up with the staggering sum of bungled fill-ups.

TaxPayers' Alliance chief Matthew Elliott doesn't mince words when talking about the size and scope of the fuel problem. "Every car damaged is thousands of pounds diverted away from the fight against crime. One would hope our police were more on the ball." One would hope.

To combat the expensive fuel mix-up issue, North Wales placed yellow stickers labeled 'DIESEL' back in 2006, but that didn't stop officers from pumping petrol on 39 different occasions. Many forces have stated that they've tried many things to combat the problem, but apparently only one solution has worked. Humberside has had only one mis-fuel, at a cost of £51. They have an all-gas fleet, which they say saves £250,000 a year. Hmmm....

[Source: U.K. Mirror]

STUDY: UK police officers confuse diesel and gas pumps four times a day, cost taxpayers £1 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british policeBritishPolicedieselmis-fuelingpetrolpolicepolice carpolice carsPoliceCarPoliceCarsukUK policeUkPoliceTue, 09 Jun 2009 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Italian State Police receive new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/italian-state-police-receive-new-lamborghini-gallardo-lp560-4/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/italian-state-police-receive-new-lamborghini-gallardo-lp560-4/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/24/italian-state-police-receive-new-lamborghini-gallardo-lp560-4/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia

It's generally never a good idea to try and outrun the the local constabulary, but that would be particularly true if you happen to be in Italy within the jurisdiction of Prefect Antonio Manganelli. Manganelli heads up the Italian State Police and he just took delivery of the latest police package special from the crew at Lamborghini. This time around the Bolognese automaker added the decals and lights to its new Gallardo LP560-4. Somehow the Lamborghini techs have managed to integrate all the gear that modern police officers regularly use into their diminutive supercar. The car is equipped with a video recording system so officers can record evidence and provide entertainment for the boys in blue back at the station by transmitting it wirelessly in real time. The usual array of gun racks and radio equipment is also supplemented by a cooler in the front compartment that can be used to transport separated body parts to the local emergency room, or that finger you just shot off a "potential" suspect. The Rome police have been using a Gallardo cruiser for the last five years and accumulated 87,000 apparently problem-free miles while the Bologna police have racked up 62,000 miles in another example. You can check out video of their new police Lambo after the jump.

Gallery: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia


[Source: Lamborghini]

Continue reading Italian State Police receive new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Italian State Police receive new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lamborghinilamborghini gallardolamborghini gallardo lp560-4lamborghini gallardo superleggeraLamborghiniGallardoLamborghiniGallardoLp560-4LamborghiniGallardoSuperleggerapolice carpolice carspolice interceptorPoliceCarPoliceCarsPoliceInterceptorFri, 24 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon Motors releases first video of E7 cop car and in-car gadgets]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/carbon-motors-releases-first-video-of-e7-cop-car-and-in-car-gadg/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/carbon-motors-releases-first-video-of-e7-cop-car-and-in-car-gadg/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/carbon-motors-releases-first-video-of-e7-cop-car-and-in-car-gadg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



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]

Carbon Motors releases first video of E7 cop car and in-car gadgets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon motorscarbon motors e7carbon motors policecarbon motors police carCarbonMotorsCarbonMotorsE7CarbonMotorsPoliceCarbonMotorsPoliceCarlaw enforcementlaw enforcement carlaw enforcement vehicleLawEnforcementLawEnforcementCarLawEnforcementVehiclepolice carpolice carsPoliceCarPoliceCarsWed, 15 Oct 2008 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon Motors releases real shots of purpose-built E7 police car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/carbon-motors-releases-real-shots-of-purpose-built-e7-police-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/carbon-motors-releases-real-shots-of-purpose-built-e7-police-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/09/carbon-motors-releases-real-shots-of-purpose-built-e7-police-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for more shots of the Carbon Motors E7

We haven't heard a peep from Carbon Motors in a very long time, but that doesn't mean the company hasn't been hard at work on its purpose-built E7 police car concept. To prove that it's moving forward, the automaker-to-be has just released two shots of a real E7. What's more, the company will show the car to prospective clients - police officers - at the upcoming 115th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference and Exposition. Unlike curent cop cars driven by these officers, usually police-spec Crown Vic Interceptors, the E7 was specifically designed just to do police duty. Instead of a 4.6-liter Ford V8 engine underhood, the E7 will feature a clean-diesel engine capable of running on biodiesel. With a cockpit derived from jet-fighter technology that includes built-in radar, radiation and biological threat detectors among other techno goodies, the E7 sounds suitably high-tech for real-life crime fighters of the modern era. To further highlight this point, check out the video, along with the press release, after the break.

Gallery: Carbon Motors E7 police car


[Source: Carbon Motors via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Carbon Motors releases real shots of purpose-built E7 police car

Carbon Motors releases real shots of purpose-built E7 police car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon e7carbon motorscarbon motors e7carbon motors policecarbon motors police carCarbonE7CarbonMotorsCarbonMotorsE7CarbonMotorsPoliceCarbonMotorsPoliceCarpolice carpolice carsPoliceCarPoliceCarsThu, 09 Oct 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Undercover Stangs: Indiana police to use unmarked Mustangs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/undercover-stangs-indiana-police-to-use-unmarked-mustangs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/undercover-stangs-indiana-police-to-use-unmarked-mustangs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/undercover-stangs-indiana-police-to-use-unmarked-mustangs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Being a cop just got a little more fun for state troopers in the state of Indiana. The police department just purchased 18 brand new black Ford Mustang GTs for traffic patrol, with one being sent to each district. The Mustangs look completely stock and only have a light bar inside the top of the windshield - not even antennas usually found on unmarked vehicles. A few troopers took the opportunity to test out their new pony cars at O'Reilly Raceway Park last week and found them to handle "differently" than the Crown Vics. We would hope so.

[Source: FlyerGroup.com via MustangBlog.com]

Undercover Stangs: Indiana police to use unmarked Mustangs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 May 2008 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FordMustangMustang police carsMustangPoliceCarspolice carsPoliceCarsThu, 22 May 2008 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkswagen Beetle police cruiser, the "bug-erceptor"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/volkswagen-beetle-police-cruiser-the-bug-erceptor/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/volkswagen-beetle-police-cruiser-the-bug-erceptor/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/25/volkswagen-beetle-police-cruiser-the-bug-erceptor/#commentsFiled under: , ,



It's a rather undignified process, being pulled over by the police. Next time you're sitting at the side of the road with the lights flashing in your rearview mirror, just think of this: at least you weren't pulled over by a VW Beetle. Unless you reside in Blount County, Tennessee, where Archie Garner, a 40-plus-year police veteran, nabbed this 1972 Beetle in a DUI case and summarily converted it into an Interceptor. Not that it does too much intercepting, being capable of only 70 miles per hour or so using the stock air-cooled 1600cc engine.

The "bug-erceptor", as it's affectionately referred to, just so happens to be car 53, wearing the same number as the lovable bug from the Herbie movie enterprise, and sees most of its duty in parades and on public relations missions. Wouldn't it be fun, though, to see your buddy pulled over in his souped-up Camaro by a Beetle? That's a story he'd never be able to live down.

[Source: USA Today, Knoxville News Sentinel]

Volkswagen Beetle police cruiser, the "bug-erceptor" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blount countyblount-countyBlountCountypolice carpolice carspolice interceptorpolice-carpolice-carspolice-interceptorPoliceCarPoliceCarsPoliceInterceptorvolkswagen beetlevolkswagen bugvolkswagen-beetlevolkswagen-bugVolkswagenBeetleVolkswagenBugvw beetlevw-beetleVwBeetleTue, 25 Mar 2008 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Michigan State Police hit the test track with latest cop cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/michigan-state-police-hit-the-test-track-with-the-latest-cop-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/michigan-state-police-hit-the-test-track-with-the-latest-cop-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/17/michigan-state-police-hit-the-test-track-with-the-latest-cop-car/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Click the Dodge Charger cop car for a high-res gallery

Every September since the 1950s, the Michigan State Police have conducted vehicle performance testing on the latest cop cars. Prior to the early 1970s when the first oil embargo occurred, they would go out for bids every year and then test just the low bid vehicle. In those days, testing was limited to acceleration, top speed and braking distance.

According to Lt. David Halliday of the Michigan State Police, as carmakers were struggling at that time and scrambling to sell their bigger vehicles, they all started submitting bids around the same price with only a $45 spread covering all the contenders one year. Around that time they decided to start testing all of the available vehicles and they also made their test results available to all interested police agencies. For the past three decades, a chunk of that annual testing has been conducted at the Chrysler Proving Ground in Chelsea, MI.

Gallery: Michigan State Police car testing

Continue reading Michigan State Police hit the test track with latest cop cars

Michigan State Police hit the test track with latest cop cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chrysler-proving-groundcop car testingcop carsCopCarsCopCarTestingmichigan-state-policepolice carspolice-car-testingPoliceCarsspecial service carsSpecialServiceCarsMon, 17 Sep 2007 11:58:00 EST