DEARBORN, Michigan — The Ford Motor Company isn't leaving police agencies in the lurch when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011. The automaker has confirmed that it will build a new Police Interceptor to replace the Crown Vic.
The Police Interceptor is expected to be based on the new Ford Taurus, as this is the only vehicle large enough in the current Ford fleet for such an application. The automaker said it will reveal the new police car and provide full vehicle specifications in the first quarter of 2010, such that law enforcement agencies, police equipment manufacturers and upfitters will have ample time to develop "a transition plan from the Crown Victoria to the new product.
"We have heard repeated requests from the law enforcement community to continue uninterrupted support," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas, in a statement.
Ford's 2009 Police Interceptor is equipped with a standard 4.6-liter SOHC V8 that delivers 250 horsepower and 297 pound-feet of torque. The automaker said it has ballistic front door panels that can shield "against most Type III rounds." Other details include a fire suppression system and a full-size spare tire.
Ford is promising better fuel economy, quality and durability on the 2011 Police Interceptor.
Currently, Ford claims "approximately 75 percent of the police pursuit vehicle business in the U.S." But the company should get a run for its money from General Motors, which announced in October that it will roll out the Chevrolet Caprice PPV, or Police Pursuit Vehicle, in 2011.
Ford said it sells about 45,000 police vehicles per year.
Inside Line says: If all goes according to Ford's plan, you'll be watching for the Taurus instead of the Crown Vic in your rearview mirror in a couple years. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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doug104 says:
11:33 AM, 10/15/2010
I am18 year police veteran and a police chief. I cut my teeth on the 88-90 Chevy Caprice. Greatest police car ever built. Ford really got their CVPI going in 1998. Since then this has been the best police car. My department has also uses Ford trucks and SUV's.
I think Ford is making a big mistake. I can assure Ford I will not purchase the Ford Taurus. V-6, Front wheel drive? This will not work. I operate a fleet of 8 CVPI's, 1F250, 1 Explorer. Plus 2 Chevrolet special use vehicles. All other agencies in my area use all CVPI's.
If the new Chevy don't work I will by 2wd Ford/Chevy 4door short bed p-ups. The Dodges don't work either, very poor comfort and visibility. I wish Ford would just keep 1 line open for police cars and cabs. If it's not broke don't fix it. I have seen officers survive crashes in the CVPI that no other car would have done.
Front wheel drive cannot perform like a rear wheel drive. Ford keep your Taurus, your v-6, and your front wheel drive. Other chiefs and I will find something else.
DSC/#301
ford_flexer says:
12:23 PM, 06/09/2010
watch out dodge and chevy heres come ford ready to kick some hardcore ass
carcatcher says:
05:30 AM, 03/04/2010
I for one don't like the idea that Ford is dropping what has become a classic workhorse Crown Victoria that could stay in it's present model form with simple face lifts here and there to give it even more class for what it represents, this idea of repackaging what has been a winner all these years simply does not make any logical sense,to change something for change sake?Modifications can handle the need for better gas mileage. Dropping the Crown Victoria is an insult to inteligence in my estimation.That being said, the rest of the story is that they are virtually turning their backs on a storybook place called the St. Thomas Ontario Plant. Why start all over again in a different direction? I sense a typical go with the crowd political correctness attitude and go to China thing here! Let's stay with the more logical approch of leaving what works alone,remember what we used to hear..if it works don't fix it..Duh! Like the old blue oval, it still works!
felonious says:
09:15 AM, 11/17/2009
You guys are seriously having a conversation about outrunning the police...? Dream on, RUBs. :)
qwagmyre says:
12:36 AM, 11/17/2009
Very few of the Dodge police cars out there have a 400hp motor! The Chicago Ford Assembly Plant already has an area set up to build the new Police cars. They make the Lincoln MKS and the Taurus there now and will be building the new Explorer there real soon. What would be wrong with a 365hp all wheel drive police car?
davesuton says:
09:59 PM, 11/16/2009
I'm more scared of a Charger than any thing else. Front wheel drive Impala and 6 cylinder Taurus are not much to worry about. 400hp Dodge is hard to outgun.
4g63 says:
08:15 PM, 11/16/2009
a police car with EcoBoost perhaps? that will make it harder to outrun the police in a pursuit haha
says:
04:59 PM, 11/16/2009
New Caprice?!?!?!?!
cumadogg says:
02:29 PM, 11/16/2009
I hope they bring something unique to the table - a repackaged Taurus will have a hard time competing with that new Caprice