Autoblog

Report: Authorities skeptical of Ford's new Police Interceptor at testing event

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Police/Emergency

2012 Ford Police Interceptor testing - Click above for high-res image gallery

Michigan law enforcement officials have gathered to run a rodeo with the Ford Police Interceptor, Dodge Charger Pursuit and Chevrolet Caprice police car. The last horse standing will be trying to slide into the spot left by the Ford Crown Victoria, which sold about 50,000 units per year before going out of production. Ford doesn't have the inside line on replacing its standard bearer, though, because the Taurus-based Police Interceptor is front-wheel drive, and that makes some officers skeptical.

An officer's remark that "It is a whole different driving system" symbolizes the wariness, with concerns not only about cost and complexity, but just being able to drive the thing in the way officers are accustomed. The competition is rear-wheel drive, and in the case of the Caprice - which ran the police fleet show until it went out of production - there's more interior room. All the cars have their give-and-take, although the Ford is the only offering with all-wheel drive. Final results from the weekend's testing will be announced in December.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

Photos by Steven J. Ewing / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Authorities skeptical of Ford's new Police Interceptor at testing event originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:59:00 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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Hyundai Genesis sedan gets the police package getup

Jonny Lieberman — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Police/Emergency, South Korea

This is interesting. As you cop-car fans well know, Ford recently introduced an all new Police Interceptor. After ~~centuries~~ decades of sticking with the body-on-frame, RWD Panther-platform Crown Victoria, Ford made the decision to go with the unit-bodied, front- or all-wheel drive Taurus chassis. They've beefed the full-size family hauler up to Herculean stature (claiming that it can withstand a 70 mph rear-end collision!) and by all accounts it should do just fine in the high speed pursuit biz. Still, to many officers and fans of the cars they drive, police cruisers should be driven via the rear wheels.

That said, check out this Hyundai. A Genesis sedan to be specific, all done up in Korean police livery. Looks good, no? Especially with the blue and red lights poking out from the grill. If you're wondering, the Genesis sedan has either a 3.8-liter V6 or a more muscular 4.6-liter "Tau" V8 up front. Both motors propel the rear wheels. For police duty, we'll go ahead and assume that Hyundai went with the more potent Tau option, as South Korean coppers will no doubt make use of the 375 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque (slight asterisk - that's on premium fuel. Should you opt for regular gas, the V8 makes "just" 368 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque).

True, like the Taurus, the Genesis sedan is still a unit body, meaning that officers in pursuit won't be able to drive over curbs at 50 mph without twisting the kimchi out of the structure. However, given the Genesis sedan's better than average handling characteristics, they should have little trouble driving around said curb, and thereby bringing the perp to justice that much more quickly. No word on a super-pursuit Genesis Coupe-based cop car. Tip of the confession-extracting sap hat to Nathan!

[Source: Chosun]

Hyundai Genesis sedan gets the police package getup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Police/Emergency

It used to be that every full-line American automaker offered a version of its mainstream full-size sedan to make it appropriate for police duty. By the time 1996 rolled around, the Chevrolet Caprice, which was the last would-be competitor to the standard-setting Ford Crown Victoria, was discontinued, leaving the lucrative police market to the Blue Oval Boys.

The automotive industry took notice, and plans began in corporate board rooms to remedy that situation, and even a few new entrants - most notably Carbon Motors - sprung up with promising designs that eschewed the mainstream production-based sedan design.

In 2005, Dodge rolled out a factory police package for its full-size Charger sedan, and for the first time in a decade the Crown Victoria faced some stiff V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competition. Then in 2009, Chevrolet announced that its new Zeta platform Caprice would be returning for the 2011 model year packing a strong 6.0-liter V8 of its own.

How would Ford answer this newly mounted competition? Would the aging Panther-based Crown Vic finally get an update? Nope. Instead, Ford just recently announced that it would soon offer a highly ruggedized version of its most recent Taurus sedan, optionally equipped with the stout 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine powering all four wheels as seen in the revived Taurus SHO.

We decided to see for ourselves how the three new competitors stacked up against the old guard Crown Vic on paper, and as you can see, there's little to separate each offering on the spec sheets. It should prove interesting to see how police agencies react to these choices, especially since reliability and durability will be mostly unknown factors for the first time in ages. See for yourself.


	Ford Crown Vic	Ford Taurus	Dodge Charger	Chevrolet Caprice
Availability	Forever	Late 2011	2005 - Present	2011
Type	Four-door, body on frame	Four-door, enhanced unibody	Four-door, unibody	Four-door, unibody
Engine	4.6L V8	3.5L V6 Twin-turbo 3.5L V6	5.7L Hemi V8	6.0L V8
Power	250 horsepower	263 horsepower 365 horsepower	368 horsepower	355 horsepower
Torque	297 lb-ft	249 lb-ft 350 lb-ft	395 lb-ft	385 lb-ft
Fuel Economy	14 City / 21 Highway	18 City / 28 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus FWD) 17 City / 25 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD)	16 City / 25 Highway	15 City / 24 Highway (2009 Pontiac G8 GT)
Driveline	Rear-Wheel	Front or All-Wheel	Rear-Wheel	Rear-Wheel
Shifter	Column	Column	Column	Console
Wheels	17-inch steel	18-inch steel	18-inch steel	18-inch steel
Brakes	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs	Four-Wheel Discs
Cop Brakes	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cop Suspension	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cop Cooling	Y	Y	Y	Y
Seats	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Cloth Bench	Front - Cloth Rear - Vinyl Bench
Interior Volume	106.4 Cubic Feet	102.3 Cubic Feet	104 Cubic Feet	112 Cubic Feet
Trunk Space	20.6 Cubic Feet	20.1 Cubic Feet	16.2 Cubic Feet	18 Cubic Feet
Special Features	Overwhelming Ubiquity Tough as nails Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact	Seats with downsized lateral bosters, cut-outs for utility belts Ford SYNC Safety Canopy(R) side-curtain air bag Rollover protection system Customizable steering-wheel switches Rear doors swing 71-degrees Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact BLIS(R) (Blind Spot Information System) Cross Traffic Alert Rear View Camera System Reverse Sensing System	160-mph (certified) calibrated speedometer AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp	Seats with downsized lateral boosters, cutouts for utility belts In-dash touch-screen computer technology Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature

Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #170 - The Hooniverse Visits

Dan Roth — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Etc., Audi, Chevrolet, Infiniti, Jeep, Nissan

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Jeff Glucker and Tim Odell of Hooniverse.com join Chris, Sam and Dan for Episode #170 of the Autoblog Podcast. The first stop is the Autoblog Garage, and the Hoons have their own garage, awesomely occupied by much better hardware than ours.

Items plucked from the news include the Ford Police Interceptor, 2011 Kia Optima, rumored Porsche Panamera convertible, 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, and the return of Lotus and Cosworth to Indy. Wade through that, and get rewarded with a few terrible answers to good questions.

Autoblog Podcast #170: The Hooniverse Visits

In the Autoblog Garage:
Audi S5
Nissan Maxima
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (Hooniverse)
Infiniti FX50S (Hooniverse)
Hurst Camaro (Hooniverse)

News:
Ford Police Interceptor
Kia Optima
Porsche Panamera Convertible
2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Lotus and Cosworth back in Indycar

Hosts:
Chris Shunk, Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid

Guests:
Jeff Glucker, Tim Odell of Hooniverse.com

Runtime: 1:12:23

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #170 - The Hooniverse Visits originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Watch the live reveal of the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Government/Legal, Work, Ford, Police/Emergency

2012 Ford Police Interceptor reveal - Click above to watch the video

Earlier today, Ford unveiled its next generation Police Interceptor (they'd rather you not call it a Taurus) at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway before a group of police agency fleet buyers. The event was webcast live, but you can now watch a replay as Ford president Mark Fields and vehicle line director Scott Tobin explain the process of developing the new cruiser and how it differs from a civilian Taurus.

The Dodge Charger has been stomping all over the Crown Vic and Impala in recent years during the annual Michigan State Police vehicle test, but that process could end this year when the new ~~Taurus~~ Police Interceptor hits the track. The 365-horsepower Ecoboost-powered Interceptor should be right up there with the Dodge and may well provide better fuel economy to boot.

Ford isn't talking price yet for the new cop cars, but it aims to make it competitive with the rest of the class, and a claimed 25-percent boost in fuel economy compared to Crown Vic should help ease the pain of transitioning. Check out the video after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Video: Watch the live reveal of the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

Video: Watch the live reveal of the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled, second utility model announced

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Ford, Specialty

2012 Ford Police Interceptor - Click above for image gallery

The Ford Crown Victoria has been the chariot of choice (well necessity really) for police officers and cabbies all over America since the demise of its numero uno competitor, the Chevrolet Caprice, back in the mid-'90s. The Crown Vic and its ancestors have been around with a minimum of mechanical changes since roughly the same time as the Model T, or at least it seems that way. However, in recent years the Crown Vic has been increasingly challenged by the Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Impala. Even more troubling for Ford is the impending arrival of a new rear-wheel-drive drive police car from Chevrolet based on the departed Pontiac G8.

At a private fleet sales event in Las Vegas today, Ford finally took the wraps off a new generation Police Interceptor model based on the 2010 Taurus. The new car has big shoes to fill as the Crown Vic has accounted for 70 percent of all police vehicle sales over the past five years. Read on for more on the new Police Interceptor.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled, second utility model announced

Officially Official: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor unveiled, second utility model announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: First images of Ford's new Taurus-based Police Interceptor revealed!

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:10:00 EST

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

2012 Ford Police Interceptor - Click above for high-res image gallery

Later today, Ford will officially unveil its new Police Interceptor at a private fleet sales event in Las Vegas, but the first images of the new vehicle were posted this morning on the company's website. As has been rumored for some time, Ford will be adapting the Taurus to take over for the aged Crown Victoria, which is finally being euthanized in September 2011.

At this point, we don't have any mechanical details on the new cop car. We wouldn't be surprised if Ford offers the Interceptor in two forms: a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 version with front-wheel drive could serve for all those local applications like liaison officers, supervisors, etc. where extra performance is not needed. The true Interceptors for highway patrol applications will probably use the SHO powertrain with the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 and all-wheel drive.

This twin-turbo cop car would provide the first real performance challenge to the increasingly popular Dodge Charger while likely getting much better fuel economy (not to mention GM's upcoming V8-powered, RWD, Zeta-based cruiser), and we presume that the Blue Oval will field the new units with the obligatory upgrades, including a more robust suspension, cooling system, electrical system and, hopefully, brakes. We should have all the answers for you around lunch time.

Gallery: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

[Source: Ford]

BREAKING: First images of Ford's new Taurus-based Police Interceptor revealed! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Work, Ford, Specialty

Will the new Police Interceptor be a toughened Taurus SHO? - click above for high-res image gallery

Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be based on the same platform as the Taurus. For you platform geeks out there, that's the Ford D3 chassis that underpins everything from the the Lincoln MKS to the Volvo XC90 to the Ford Flex (though the Flex and the Lincoln MKT ride on a lengthened version called D4). Yesterday, we explained that a new Police Interceptor is showing up tomorrow (Friday, March 12) in Las Vegas and that it probably won't be riding on the Panther platform. Regardless, the concept will be unveiled at the Vegas Motor Speedway.

There's still no official word from Ford on the matter, however. However, if the new Interceptor is in fact Taurus-based, that means no rear-wheel drive Falcon in the United States. Which is a definite bummer. Also, while there are all-wheel drive variants of the D3 platform - and we think it's safe to assume that if the new Police Interceptor is D3-based it will be AWD - it lacks frame rails. Has Ford figured out a way to make a unibody car tough enough for police work? We shall see. And if the new PI is a Taurus, will it be based on a modified 365-horsepower SHO? We'd wager yes. Let's just hope they fit some bigger brakes for cop duty, eh?

Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[Source: The Detroit News]

DetNews: New Ford Police Interceptor to be Taurus-based originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Next-gen Ford Police Interceptor will debut this Friday in Las Vegas

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Government/Legal, Work, Ford, Specialty

Hold on to your sap gloves and night sticks - it's that time of the decade! An Autoblog source reveals that Ford is about to release a brand spankin' new Police Interceptor. Not only is this humongous news for our pals in the law enforcement community, but this is 120-point headline font for taxi companies around the country, as they typically buy old Police Interceptors with 90,000 miles on 'em and repurpose them as the cabs we all know and love passing out in. Why? Because Police Interceptors are the toughest passenger cars money can buy.

Few of us have the need to drive over curbs at 50+ mph, but if that need arises, you're going to want to do so in an Interceptor. Aside from the "severe duty" shocks, you get a beefed up frame and body mounts. Yes, that is correct. The Crown Victoria-based Police Interceptor is body-on-frame. Listen, when you're PIT maneuvering a perp during a high speed chase, the last thing you want to worry about is bending the chassis. Plus you got them heavy duty brakes, suspension components and oil coolers. A sweet package, no doubt.

Here's the thing though. If this new Police Interceptor is more than a package, what platform will it ride on? Ford has stated publicly that it's ending the geriatric Panther Platform Crown Victoria's life in 2011. We'll go ahead and interpret that to mean that this new Police Interceptor won't be Crown Victoria-based. Do we know that for sure? No, but it's a logical bit of speculation. Could the new Interceptor be Taurus-based, maybe something with a SHO motor and stouter brakes? Again, yes, but for all we know the upcoming car's a Fiesta with the Mustang GT's new 5.0-liter V8 crammed in the rear seat. Or one of them apocryphal Australia-only rear-drive Falcons. All we know for sure is that Ford's introducing a new Police Interceptor to a select group of folks in Las Vegas this Friday. Production? Concept? We're not entirely sure yet. More details when we get them.

[Image: davidsonscott15 | CC2.0]

Source: Next-gen Ford Police Interceptor will debut this Friday in Las Vegas originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2010: Chevrolet rolls out Caprice Police Car

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Police/Emergency

Chevrolet Caprice PPV - Click above for high-res image gallery

Late last year, General Motors announced that it would build a Zeta-based Police Car for North American duty. Though there was already a perfectly good Pontiac G8 available before GM decided to shutter the brand, this Zeta would be based on the longer version of that platform as used by the Holden Statesman and be known as the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicle.

Well, what do you know. Chevy brought just such a vehicle to the Chicago Auto Show, and we managed to snap off a series of photos to share. According to the personnel manning the booth, the Caprice PPV is still in concept form, complete with a refurbished Toughbook panel from Panasonic attached to the center console.

Being a long-wheelbase Zeta, the Caprice PPV has plenty of room for a divided cockpit with what appears to be a plexiglass barrier protecting the driver and front passenger from whatever or whomever happens to be confined to the rear. Other interesting tidbits include a number of storage locations, including one for weapons between the two front seats.

We're sure the cops will appreciate the E85-compatible 6.0-liter V8 and the 355 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque it puts out. Now if only GM could find a way to put just such a Caprice (or, would that be a proper Impala SS?) in every single Chevrolet dealership around the country, they may really be on to something.

Gallery: Chevrolet Caprice PPV at Chicago Auto Show

Chicago 2010: Chevrolet rolls out Caprice Police Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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