Autoblog

BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011

Chris Paukert — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Work, Ford, Australia, Specialty

In a surprise move, Ford has announced that it will pursue the development of an all-new Police Interceptor model. The move comes on the heels of General Motors' announcement that it plans to challenge the Crown Victoria's law enforcement dominance with its own heavy-duty Chevrolet Caprice sedan.

Details are slim, but Ford says the forthcoming PI will arrive in 2011 and it will sport durability, safety, and performance parameters that are superior to that of the Jurassic Panther-platform Crown Vic. Given the relatively tight timeframe and durability targets, we have to assume that the replacement cop car could be based on the rear-drive Australian-market Ford Falcon shown above. The Blue Oval promises that the car will be engineered and built in America, so it could also be an Ecoboost version of the Ford Taurus (as seen in the SHO), but front-drive cars have had trouble meeting the durability and cost requirements of police duty in the past, making this something of an open question. In an official release posted after the jump, Ford says it will disclose full vehicle specs in the first quarter of 2010, which should give enough time for both law enforcement and police vehicle equipment manufacturers to prepare for the changeover.

Ford says it presently shifts about 45,000 of the 60,000 police cars sold in the States each year, so it makes sense that Dearborn would not be willing to cede this market to Chevy's Caprice and the already established Dodge Charger.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011

BREAKING: Ford announces it will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford preparing cops for life after Crown Vic, has police sample Taurus

Chris Shunk — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Ford, Specialty

Quick quiz: What vehicle transported Paris Hilton to prison? If you answered Ford's Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, you took the easy route and you were correct. The older than thou Crown Vic accounts for about 85% of the 75,000 police vehicles sold each year - a market where styling, amenities and new safety features have little to do with the vehicle's success.

The CV's body-on-frame construction helps the ubiquitous cop cruiser stand up to the punishment doled out by the guys and gals in blue. Body-on-frame platforms are generally also easier to repair, and anyone who has been in a police parking lot can plainly see that these vehicles take a big-time beating in the name of public safety. The CV is also rear-wheel drive for better handling, it's large enough to fit even the biggest of felons (and cops), and its column-mounted shifter enables the fuzz to have plenty of room for a laptop. But alas, the Crown Vic is also older than dirt. We'd joke that Henry Ford himself had a hand in the creation of the CV, but chances are that Henry II actually did, and he retired as the head of the Blue Oval when Pong was state-of-the-art video gaming technology.

According to The Detroit News, in June, Ford hosted police personnel from some of America's biggest cities to discuss the future of the police cruiser. The Dearborn, MI-based automaker told the police departments that the Crown Vic would be gone by 2011. That's bad news for departments like the LAPD, which has a shop set up specifically to deal with the CV. Some police departments told the Motown newspaper that rear-drive vehicles like the Charger can't hold up to the abuse of police work. Others are looking into the Impala, though the front-drive Chevy hasn't gained much traction with law enforcement. One ray of hope could come in the form of the Carbon Motors E7 purpose built police cruiser, but it isn't quite ready for prime time yet, and it's likely to be significantly more expensive than the equivalent Blue Oval cruiser.

Ford is in a bit of a predicament in that the Crown Vic has the police (and cab) market to itself and, as Ford President Mark Fields points out to The Detroit News, the CV gives Ford a presence in just about every municipality in America. One vehicle that Ford gave to police to drive during their stay in Dearborn was the new Taurus, which is almost as big and roomy as the CV, but with far more safety tech, improved fuel economy and the (costly) option of an Ecoboost V6 under the hood in the form of the SHO model. The Taurus may not be the ultimate answer (at least it won't be outrun by a Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima), but Ford insists that it isn't giving up its police share without a fight.

[Source: Detroit News]

REPORT: Ford preparing cops for life after Crown Vic, has police sample Taurus originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Italian State Police receive new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Lamborghini, Police/Emergency

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.

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Volkswagen Beetle police cruiser, the "bug-erceptor"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Volkswagen, Police/Emergency

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.

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Top five upcoming tech gadgets for cops

Chris Shunk — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:23:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Government/Legal, Technology, Police/Emergency

Many criminals today have tools to evade capture, and now tech companies are doing their best to help law enforcement catch up. License-reading cameras, infrared lights, GPS tracking, enhanced communications, and WMD sensors are just a few of the ways that cops are helping to get criminals, but law-breakers are constantly adapting their methods. Popular Mechanics analyzed all the new technology that is helping the good guys catch the bad guys, and they've come up with a list of the most cop-friendly gadgets. You can check them out after the jump.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Continue reading Top five upcoming tech gadgets for cops

Top five upcoming tech gadgets for cops originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Ford Crown Victoria to be fleet-only, new features offered for police version

Alex Nunez — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 15:18:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford

Over at The Blue Oval Forums, the new vehicle inventory manager for Hamden, CT's Bob Thomas Ford posted word that the ordering guide for the '08 Crown Vic came in and the car is now only available to fleets. This is good news for taxi/limo companies, government users and police departments, who are guaranteed at least one more year of the car in its current form. If you wanted to buy an '08, you're outta luck, however. Fret not, as used (and identical-looking) ones are not hard to come by. We'd be looking for a retired police car, ourselves.

Speaking of the police, the '08 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor has a few new features for the upcoming model year. The 4.6L V8 is flex-fuel compatible and will run on E85, a tire pressure monitoring system is now standard equipment, and remote keyless entry is now offered as an option. According to a poster on CrownVic.net, the cops won't be ordering Driftwood Beige cars any longer (good for us, because we find the beige cars to be essentially invisible when parked roadside), and 3.55 gears will not be available on 50-state-emissions-legal cruisers. Other than that, the cars are the same as they've been for many years.

We haven't heard anything regarding the Vic's sister sled, the Mercury Grand Marquis, so tell grandma and grandpa not to worry themselves just yet. Meanwhile, at Ford dealerships, salesmen will be happy to show you a shiny new Taurus in lieu of the Crown Vic. It's worth noting that when Ford consigned the last-gen Taurus to fleet sales only, it essentially marked the car's death knell since it was discontinued completely the following year. As such, we could finally be witnessing the beginning of the end of the Crown Victoria as we know it.

Thanks to Bryan for the tip!

[Sources: Blue Oval Forums, CrownVic.net, Ford]

2008 Ford Crown Victoria to be fleet-only, new features offered for police version originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Team Panther slides. We catch their drift.

Alex Nunez — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Videos, Ford

Even if you hate drifting, you 've got to admit that when the slides are executed with flair, it's pretty entertaining to watch. That's how we felt when we first saw the the video above. In it, Team Panther's 600+ horsepower Ford Police Interceptor puts on a great little show during last year's One Lap of America competition. The announcer's a bit intrusive, and we wish we could hear more of the sounds coming from the car, but it's really fun to watch when the white cop car gets into a groove, lights ablaze.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: Team Panther slides. We catch their drift. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Crown Vic redesign due in 2009, the fuzz is pleased

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:09:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Ford

The Crown Victoria will live! That's the word, according to a recent article in Law and Order magazine, which puts to rest rumors of Ford killing off its body-on-frame, V8-powered, RWD sedan, loved by police and loathed by anyone who's gotten the gumball machine treatment.

The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) will continue to be produced in its current form through 2008, with a redesign due in 2009. The new model will keep the same dimensions as the current vehicle, with measured revisions to add both performance and safety.

A posting on CrownVic.net brings to light some interesting facts about the CVPI, with regard to airbags (i.e. how do you get side curtain airbags to function properly when there's partition between cop and criminal), the importance of ballast, what level of performance is necessary and a host of other geeky tidbits.

Although this may be good news for both Ford and our boys and girls in blue, it doesn't bode well for Dodge, whose Charger has been the up-and-comer in a number of precinct garages.

[Source: Jalopnik via Crownvic.net]

Ford Crown Vic redesign due in 2009, the fuzz is pleased originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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