Autoblog

Carbon Motors strikes back with new police truck

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Police/Emergency

Carbon Motors couldn't have picked a better time to get into the police car business with the departure of the Ford Crown Victoria leaving the market wide open, but with its purpose-built E7 police sedan still a few more years away from production, the Indiana-based company decided to launch another vehicle for first responders. There was a big demand to get something out quick, and that something is the TX7. Designed to be more of a multipurpose vehicle, the TX7 is able to fill many roles making it a more practical expense for police agencies.

Unlike the E7, the TX7 is based on an existing powertrain and chassis, which allowed Carbon to develop the truck in less than eight months, but the company has not yet announced where it got these components from. What we do know is that a diesel V8 producing at least 300 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque is under the hood, and it is paired to a four-wheel-drive system and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Referred to as a "multi mission vehicle," the TX7 is designed to be more practical than a standard SUV police vehicle while costing hundreds of thousands of dollars less than a full assault-type SWAT truck. Carbon spokesman Stacy Dean Stephens said that most specialized police vehicles, like SWAT trucks, are not used on a frequent basis, but the TX7's 10-passenger capacity makes it a versatile vehicle for first responders.

"Command post vehicles and SWAT trucks can sit around unused for most of the year," Stephens said. "The TX7 can perform many different tasks while costing far less... including being a command post following natural disasters or acting as a prisoner transport."

The TX7 is not available with the heavier armor meaning it won't be able to be used in all extreme situations, but Stephens also said it's a much less imposing vehicle than a SWAT vehicle, which he says can "scare the community."

The Carbon TX7 is priced at $149,950, and with deliveries taking place during the second half of next year. Scroll down for the official press release.

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Carbon Motors strikes back with new police truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ram Special Services Police Truck gives the Five-O a 5.7

Zach Bowman — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Government/Legal, Police/Emergency, Ram

Law enforcement agencies may now sink their teeth into a specially prepared version of the Ram pickup truck. The Special Services Police Truck is built to take the abuse that only police officers can throw at a vehicle with additional door supports to handle the weight of optional ballistic protection, a 220-amp alternator for added electronic gadgetry and a 390-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine.

Each truck is built with a unique wiring harness specifically engineered to endure the heavy loads of the radar, computer, lighting and radio equipment officers need in the field. Speaking of fields, this is one pursuit vehicle that can chase you anywhere you run thanks to the presence of a four-wheel-drive system.

Ram isn't saying how much the Special Services Police Truck will cost municipalities or whether or not regular-Joe buyers can tick the right boxes and get their own service truck. We do know that with 407 pound-feet of torque on tap and a 3.92 axle ratio, this vehicle will be plenty quick off of the line when it comes time to give unruly motorists a stern talking to. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Ram Special Services Police Truck gives the Five-O a 5.7

Ram Special Services Police Truck gives the Five-O a 5.7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford said to be preparing Explorer-based pursuit-rated SUV for police fleets

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Crossover, Ford, Police/Emergency

When Ford introduced its Police Interceptor based on the Taurus, it said it had another vehicle in the works that "would share most parts with the Taurus and be available in a utility version." Speculation was that it would be a Flex based on the component spec, but according to The Detroit News, it turns out the as-yet-unseen 2011 Ford Explorer has got the nod.

Ford won't say much about it at the moment as it hasn't been announced officially, but it is understood that the model will be pursuit-rated and pack all-wheel-drive. The latter distinction arguably puts it atop the category: there is a pursuit-rated Chevrolet Tahoe that many police forces already use, but it's only two-wheel-drive. The four-wheel-drive Tahoe, also already employed by rural and urban forces, isn't pursuit-rated.

Ford hasn't given a timeframe for when the police-spec unibody Explorer will be here, but in addition to its arrival giving units like K9 and SWAT a better mobile command post, it ought to help Ford's efforts to maintain its 70-percent share of the police market after the current Crown Victoria-based PI goes out to pasture. Hat tip to Matthew.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford said to be preparing Explorer-based pursuit-rated SUV for police fleets originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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