- The Charger Pursuit is Chrysler's next-generation police vehicle.
- It's a good look at the redesigned 2011 Dodge Charger, which will be unveiled later in 2010.
- The Pursuit will come with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and the 5.7-liter Hemi V8.
AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — The 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit, Chrysler's answer to the Ford Police Interceptor, was revealed today. It offers an early look at the redesigned 2011 Dodge Charger, which will be unveiled later this year, Chrysler confirmed for Inside Line.
"You should think of this as the beginning of the all-new Dodge Charger retail vehicle coming out at the end of the year [for the general public]," said Chrysler spokesman Jiyan Cadiz in a phone conversation. "The image is pretty much covered up. But we'll likely get the face on the production one. I'm trying to protect this car [the 2011 Charger] so you'll have another story to write later."
Cadiz said trying to maintain the mystery of the redesigned Charger is the reason Chrysler only released one darkened image of the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit. Chrysler described the new look as having a "sinister face," in a statement.
Cadiz was also unable to provide such key details as pricing and horsepower numbers on the two engines that will be available in Chrysler's latest cop car. Cadiz did say the 2011 Pursuit would be "more powerful" than the 2010 Dodge Charger police vehicle. "That one delivered 250 horsepower on the 3.5-liter [V6] and 360 hp on the [V8]," he noted.
Chrysler said in a statement that the Charger Pursuit gets a standard E85-capable 3.6-liter V6 engine or an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine. The Pursuit can be ordered in September and will go into production at the end of the year. The Taurus-based Ford Police Interceptor, which replaces the Crown Victoria police car, is scheduled for launch in North America in late 2011. The Ford Police Interceptor gets a standard 263-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine or the optional 365-hp EcoBoost V6.
For 2011, the Dodge Charger police vehicle gets a new name: Pursuit. "The new name [was given] just to be a little more relevant in the police market," Cadiz said.
Cadiz said that Dodge now has "almost 20 percent of the police vehicle market in the U.S.," or roughly one out of every five police vehicles on the road.
The rear-wheel-drive Dodge Charger Pursuit gets performance suspension tuning, heavy-duty antilock brakes, front and rear stabilizer bars, 18-inch performance tires on steel wheels and two-mode police-specific electronic stability control. The cabin has red/white LED lighting for night vision equipment and police-duty front seats.
"The minute you see it, you lock on the brakes," said Cadiz.
Inside Line says: If you look hard and imagine all the police paraphernalia stripped away, you'll get an idea of what the 2011 Charger will look like. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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driver2010 says:
03:16 PM, 08/26/2010
I don't care if it is or not faster than the Crown Vic, the Chevy Caprice, or the Mustang, I do not want to see this thing or any other cop car in my rear view. If the police can catch a criminal driving this thing, then the car is alright. But, really! It is not the performance of the car, it's whether the driver can handle the car while it is going at certain high speeds. Don't agree, well you don't have too! It's my opinion, my comment! :)
atdcorp says:
08:44 PM, 08/25/2010
The stats on this car look very good. I however,still think the crown vic has life in it. Now that Ford has increased the displacement of the new Mustang, why not take the 4.6 liter three valve GT motor and drop it in engine bay with a f250 6 speed geared for quick response on the front in(gears 1-4) and pursuit and loaf gear on the back end(5&6)? It will take some redesign. Most cops do prefer the crown to the other cars available because of its size.
bodyblue says:
10:08 AM, 08/25/2010
"This is NOT a viable alternative to the Crown Vic., take it from the officers who have to put up with it."
There is a reason the Police Interceptor has been around for so long. They are built like tanks and are relible as hell. It is a myth that police cars have to be the fastest on the road to be effective. They need to be big, roomy, comfortable and have a huge trunk. The PI has always outsold the faster Charger for police use. The Chargers haul ass for sure but it is not as suited for police work. Sure does look mean though!
geperkins says:
08:43 AM, 08/25/2010
"The 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit, coming soon to a rearview mirror near you."
Does that mean you just passed it up?
-GP
05stangdriver says:
03:09 AM, 08/25/2010
THANK you, ae2116, for clarifying that! I was assuming that the car actually had TWO engines! Which didn't make much sense, really, because the V6 would've had to be in the trunk, which wouldn't leave much room for storing all the police gear that cops normally have to carry back there...
angry_mushroom says:
09:08 PM, 08/24/2010
Let's see how it'll stack up against the new Taurus Interceptor and the Chevy Caprice cop cars...
whipstrut says:
08:40 PM, 08/24/2010
Cops around the Northwest don't like these very much. It will pass everything but a gas station though. One big problem is the seemingly weak "front end". Even a low speed trip over a curb (pretty common if you think about it) puts the Charger on a roll truck back to the shop. Also, the interior quality is pretty shoddy and not up to Police use. This is NOT a viable alternative to the Crown Vic., take it from the officers who have to put up with it.
parchisi64 says:
07:07 PM, 08/24/2010
I gotta say I'm a Ford guy through and through, but that thing has PRESENCE and does look sinister. The charger cop cars are indeed becoming more prevalent, and whenever I see any charger, I instinctively tap the brakes. That may have something to do with me getting pulled over by one recently in my 2011 Mustang 5.0, lol.
jonny69 says:
05:42 PM, 08/24/2010
LOL WS6.... the new (2009+) Hemi runs low 13's STOCK and 0-60 (with a good driver) around 5 seconds or better. Not bad for a 4000lb. car.
Must be the WS6 is a snail, with a underpowered engine.... as that car weighs... what 3300lbs and is reported in the LS1 forums as about the same performance...
I'm sure your STOCK WS6 does mid to low 12's in your world... ROFLMAO.
LOL
threemopars says:
05:28 PM, 08/24/2010
Let me guess WS6, have a hard time outrunning a 5.7 Charger Police Car?