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Posts from the ‘Cop Cars’ Category

17
Mar

Check Your Six: new Ford cop cars are on the prowl

Kick the tires and light the fires: it’s springtime and that means it’s time get out and drive! But when a bogey up ahead paints you, smart drivers with the reassurance of a Valentine One won’t have to jink their ride.  Even smarter drivers would have ECM that self-deploys.

The game for our “blue team” is all about technology: having it, knowing how to use it, ensuring that you do at any and all times. Getting splashed for 1 over on a downtown hop makes for a Charlie Foxtrot kind of day.

On the side of the “red team”, it’s more about tactics, techniques, and procedures and less about technology. Patrol patterns, places to hide, dirty tricks, and having to follow established procedure including the required training and calibrations.  The basic radar technology hasn’t changed in years, not counting unmanned radar (inevitably found unconstitutional when taken to the highest courts).

But prowl car technology has. Given the retirement of ye olde Crown ‘Vic, Ford has a new generation of police vehicles. That, thanks to Ford, saves taxpayers significant funds by using up to 35% less fuel. And they accelerate faster after pulling a bat-turn. Fortunately for the blue team though, the eyeball profiles of both vehicles are even larger than ever – making it even easier to check your six (and your twelve) when the red team is hiding in traffic, behind billboards, or even here.

Introducing the 2013 Ford (Taurus and Explorer) Police Interceptors. Two Ford Press Releases follow:

New Ford Police Interceptors Deliver up to 35 Percent Better Fuel Economy When Idling

  • EPA fuel economy ratings confirm new Ford Police Interceptors are the most fuel-efficient police vehicles in Ford’s history
  • Fuel economy at idle improves 35 percent on the Police Interceptor sedan and 32 percent on the Police Interceptor utility vehicle
  • Law enforcement agencies stand to benefit from significant fuel efficiency

DEARBORN, Mich., March 16, 2012 – With experts predicting fuel prices are headed for record highs this year, the fuel efficiency of the new Ford Police Interceptors has the potential to help America’s cash-strapped cities reduce their fuel bills.

Ford engineers tuned the all-new Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicle models to save fuel even when they are standing still, with no sacrifice to pursuit performance.
The city and highway fuel economy ratings for the new Police Interceptors have increased by an impressive 25 percent over the retired Crown Victoria. But many law enforcement vehicles spend the majority of their lives idling, and that is where the new models can provide even more fuel savings.
“Our latest fuel-efficient V6 engines deliver on our promise for increased performance and improved economy, while providing government agencies with a money-saving solution,” said Bill Gubing, chief engineer of the Ford Police Program.
Top fuel economy and performance
The Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicle that are now being delivered to law enforcement agencies are available with efficient powertrain packages that provide more performance and better fuel economy, and are paired with standard and exclusive all-wheel drive for optimized traction and control.
  • The base 3.5-liter V6 in the Police Interceptor sedan delivers 288 horsepower and EPA-certified fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway. Compared to the Crown Victoria – America’s top-selling law enforcement vehicle for the past 15 years – the Police Interceptor sedan offers an improvement of 4 mpg city and 5 mpg highway, and 38 more horsepower
  • The optional EcoBoost® 3.5-liter V6 in the all-wheel-drive Police Interceptor sedan is rated at 365 horsepower and is EPA-certified at 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway. In recent Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department testing, the EcoBoost Police Interceptor beat all competitive police cars from General Motors and Chrysler in 0-60 mph acceleration tests
  • The Police Interceptor utility is built with a 3.7-liter V6 rated at 304 horsepower. The EPA rating of 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway is best in class, topping the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV. The Police Interceptor utility easily out-accelerated the V8-powered Tahoe in the LASD tests, reaching 60 mph in 8.4 seconds compared with 9.5 seconds for the Tahoe
Fuel-sipping while idle
A recent study of police car use in Ottawa, Canada, showed the average police vehicle idles for up to 6.7 hours in every 10-hour shift. And, according to Police Fleet Magazine, the typical police vehicle wastes half a gallon of fuel for each hour it idles.
For example, a 35 percent fuel economy gain during idling for a government agency with 100 vehicles would save taxpayers $153,300 per year with gasoline prices at $4 per gallon, if the vehicle idled for a minimum of three hours per day for two shifts.
The 3.5-liter V6 engine in the Police Interceptor sedan uses 35 percent less fuel idling than did the 4.6-liter V8 engine in the Crown Victoria. The 3.7-liter V6 in the Police Interceptor utility uses 32 percent less fuel when idling than the Crown Victoria’s engine.
“Our extensive experience with the Crown Victoria and feedback from our Police Advisory Board helped us develop the next-generation Police Interceptor to be a no-compromise vehicle that can easily be outfitted to meet the needs of individual agencies,” said Lisa Teed, Ford marketing manager for Police Interceptor.
Under the hood
All three Police Interceptor engines feature double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and Ti-VCT, or twin independent variable camshaft timing, plus several other high-tech features that improve fuel economy at idle and at speed without sacrificing the performance that is required by law enforcement.
An example of how Ford engineers improved the fuel economy of both Police Interceptor models, beyond the powertrain changes, is outfitting the vehicles with EPAS, or electric power-assisted steering. The old-style hydraulic power steering system found on competitive police vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV and Dodge Charger, forces the engine to work harder – and waste fuel – at idle because the pump runs whenever the engine does.
When a Ford Police Interceptor is idling, no energy is consumed by the steering system until an officer turns the steering wheel. Other fuel improvements come from optimizing the energy consumed by the air conditioning compressor and alternator.
Purpose-built
Working with Ford’s Police Advisory Board, which consists of law enforcement professionals from the United States and Canada who contributed to the development of these vehicles on attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality, the new Police Interceptor vehicles are purpose-built to meet the requirements of this demanding industry.
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Ford Police Interceptor Vehicles Best Competition in Annual L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Police Vehicle Tests

  • Ford’s next-generation Police Interceptor® vehicles eclipsed the competition in acceleration, braking, high-speed pursuit and city pursuit testing by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
  • The all-new Ford Police Interceptor vehicles benchmark the industry standard, Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, while delivering better performance, handling and fuel economy
  • Now police departments and other law enforcement agencies can purchase an all-new, American-made vehicle with the proven durability and price range of the popular Crown Victoria. Police agencies can currently place orders through dealerships
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23, 2011 – The all-new Ford Police Interceptor® sedan and utility vehicle posted class-leading figures in the complete series of performance tests conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
The entire portfolio of Police Interceptor vehicles passed the extreme testing conducted by the LASD and proved to the public and the law enforcement industry that Ford delivers purpose-built, pursuit-rated Police Interceptor vehicles.
The annual test to validate pursuit performance on police vehicles is a joint evaluation conducted by the LASD with the support of the L.A. Police Department. To match real-world patrol conditions, emphasis is placed on a semi-continuous run of 32 high-speed pursuit laps to test for brake and tire durability, powertrain robustness and high vehicle temperature driveability.
“Our experience with the Crown Victoria helped us develop the next generation of Police Interceptor vehicles that serve as tools for the law enforcement community to do their jobs safely, efficiently and effectively,” said Lisa Teed, Ford marketing manager for the Police Interceptor products. “The LASD testing proves the durability of Ford’s latest generation of police vehicles.”
Leading the competition
The 3.5-liter EcoBoost® all-wheel-drive sedan posted the fastest acceleration times of the event.
“EcoBoost powertrain performance is optimized for closing speed and maximizing takedowns, thus preventing high-speed pursuits from even forming,” said Bill Gubing, chief engineer for the Police Interceptors.
The EcoBoost-equipped Police Interceptor sedan completed the 32-lap, high-speed pursuit test posting the fastest average lap time, which was roughly two seconds faster than the V8 competitors.
Not to be outdone, the 3.7-liter Police Interceptor utilities completed the grueling 32-lap tests, and the all-wheel-drive variants all posted faster times than their competitors by roughly two seconds per lap. The Police Interceptor utilities also performed well in the braking event by stopping eight feet better than direct competitors.
The 3.5-liter Ti-VCT sedans completed the 32-lap high-speed pursuit test, outperforming the outgoing Crown Victoria. The Ti-VCT sedans also shined in the city pursuit test, posting times better than the V8 competitors. The city pursuit testing is a series of short straights and quick turns to simulate a tight, city-style pursuit. The event tests the vehicle’s driving dynamics and ease of pursuit driving in urban environments.
Experience counts
Building on more than 15 years of leadership, Ford took the key product attributes that made Crown Victoria Police Interceptor the leading law enforcement vehicle and increased the next-generation product’s capabilities including the first and only pursuit-rated all-wheel-drive police vehicles. Now police departments and other law enforcement agencies can get an all-new, American-made vehicle with the same durability and price range as the popular Crown Victoria. The new Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicle will be built at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant.
Working with Ford’s Police Advisory Board consisting of law enforcement professionals from the United States and Canada who provided feedback on attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality, the new Police Interceptor vehicles are purpose-built to meet the requirements of this demanding industry.
To view the results of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department testing, visit http://www.lasdhq.org/sites/car-test/index.html.

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12
Mar

New Ford Taurus Police Interceptor

As predicted, the new 2013 Ford Police Interceptor introduced today is nothing more than a repackaged and slightly reworked Taurus.

The good news is that the Taurus meets and exceeds the expected police-level performance and safety standards, beating the aged Crown ‘Vic hands-down. But was that such a hard thing to do against the ancient ‘vic (which in automotive years, isn’t too far removed from olde Queen Victoria herself)? The bigger question will be durability: the ‘vic has had so many modification over the years to this point in time that the new Interceptor will have to be pretty good to last as long.  Ford works very closely with police departments and will be watching this aspect of vehicle performance very closely.

The bad news is that some people who were hoping that Ford would import the Falcon for this job will be very disappointed. But Ford can’t risk its profitable police car business on the vagaries of currency fluctuation and that has seriously hurt Australian imports before. And who knows if the Falcon can even be federalized – much less made into a police vehicle that can pass the 75 MPH crash test. Ford probably knows – and we never will. It’s even more clear now that the current Falcon will never see the light of day in North America anyway (and it’s an even bet that the Taurus may become the Falcon in Australia).

There are a couple of interesting tidbits (my highlights in red) in the press release below.

  • You’ll note that the Police Interceptor gets upgraded brakes – something that is desperately needed for the SHO. Which as we’ve seen will smoke it’s brakes on enthusiastic back road drives and did just that for journalists in the press roll-outs (that is, those who actually drove the SHO, unlike that fellow in DC). Never mind braking performance on a racetrack: nobody in their right mind would try to take this over-weight and under-braked barge onto a race track.  But Ford obviously can’t risk their police cars smoking their brakes and falling behind the perps, especially since all the big chases end up in endless replays on cable TV these days.
  • Note the “at least 365 HP” statement. Does this means that the 2013 SHO get a HP boost? The addition of Ti-VCT to the SHO engine is possible, although it’s debatable whether or not the tranny could handle any additional power. We’d be happier instead with a serious weight loss: 4368 for the SHO is several hundred too much. The weight wasn’t given for the Interceptor, but note that police vehicles are routinely loaded with gear, the crash bar for the Pit Maneuver, a cage to keep the perp under control, and all sorts of other additions.  A 4700 pound police car might be possible here, not counting the officers (or donuts).
  • Note the “utility vehicle” statement – a second police vehicle will be added to the lineup. We predict that this will be the upcoming new Explorer. This is an easy prediction - it’s on the identical platform. Replacement parts budget is extremely important to police maintenance departments. One of the reasons the ‘vic has endured for so long is because these departments have been able to buy parts en masse for it and stockpile them. Having two vehicles share a majority of mechanical parts would make for great economy of scale. And the new Explorer will have a bit more room inside – maybe even enough for Steven Seagal’s butt to ride around in (reference: his secret life as a Jefferson Parish deputy - where by all appearances every officer gets an Expedition. We can make this comment about Mr. Seagal because we never drive thru Jefferson Parish – and now never can).
  • Interesting that the base V-6 will have “at least” 263 HP. Does this mean that the base Taurus V-6 will get upgraded to the new 285 HP Ti-VCT engine for 2013? One would think so, as the new Explorer has already been photographed with a Ti-VCT V-6 engine. The only question that remains is whether the 3.7 or the 3.5 version would be used.

As for we civilians, we now have yet another big cop car grill that will be easy to memorize. :-(

And does this mean there will be a taxi version of the Taurus as well?

2010 Police Interceptor - prototype/concept

Memorize This Grill!

Ford press release follows:

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ALL-NEW FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR PURPOSE-BUILT TO LEAD MARKET, SUPPORT THOSE WHO SERVE, PROTECT

  • Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor, engineered to exceed durability, safety and performance of today’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
  • New Ford Police Interceptor sedan will offer two fuel-efficient powertrain options – including EcoBoostwith all wheel-drive – along with an array of safety technologies; interior has been designed to meet unique law enforcement needs
  • Ford’s new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011
  • Ford confirms production of an additional Police Interceptor, a utility vehicle that will be pursuit-rated to complement the sedan; vehicle to be revealed later this year

Las Vegas, March 12, 2010 – Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor sedan today, showcasing a car for law enforcement officials that will exceed the durability, safety, performance and fuel economy of the industry’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria – while also confirming production of a Police Interceptor utility vehicle.

Ford, the police vehicle market leader for 15 years, specifically designed and engineered an all-new Police Interceptor to handle the rigors of police work, including industry-leading powertrain, safety and technology innovations.

Ford will also add a second Police Interceptor to the lineup, a utility vehicle to provide customers a choice of the best vehicle to suit their needs. More details will be released in the third quarter of this year.

“Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety, and Ford is answering the call with a purpose-built vehicle – engineered and built in America – that’s as dynamic as it is durable,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.

To develop the all-new Police Interceptor, Ford engineers worked hand-in-hand with Ford’s Police Advisory Board of law enforcement professionals, which provided input on key vehicle attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality.

“Their feedback mattered to us,” said Scott Tobin, Ford vehicle line director for cars and crossovers. “Safety and durability were at the top of their list. So safety and durability were at the top of ours.”

A focus on safety
Continuing Ford’s safety leadership includes engineering the Police Interceptor to pass 75-mph rear-end crash testing. Currently, the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the only pursuit sedan to meet this test.

The new Police Interceptor also features Ford’s exclusive Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system to help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side-impact crashes. The multiple side-curtain air bags use Ford’s unique Roll Fold technology to help them slip between the occupant and the side window.

Increased power, enhanced sophistication
Ford’s Police Interceptor engine strategy will provide a V-6 lineup that performs equal to or better than V-8 engines. The lineup comes with two powertrain options, allowing police to choose the powerhouse that best meets their patrol requirements.

A highly efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower and E85 compatibility is 25 percent more efficient than the 4.6-liter Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) V-8 offered in the current Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

Plus, an all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine will deliver at least 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque across a broad rpm range.

“We haveanextremely powerful standard engine, and to top that off, we also offer our exclusive EcoBoost technology,” said Tobin. “Both are designed for the severe-duty cycle that police engage in on a daily basis.”

EcoBoost brings municipalities and police fleet administrators the first ultra high-performance, yet environmentally friendly, police pursuit vehicle. Offering performance that bests normally aspirated V-8 powered police cruisers and comparable fuel economy and CO2 emissions to the standard V-6, EcoBoostrepresents a triple-win for police departments, the tax-paying constituents they serveandthe environment they help collectively to preserve.

A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission delivers the power of EcoBoost to the road via the sophisticated torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system.

“Ford remains committed to leading the police vehicle market, and our new Police Interceptor demonstrates how much engineering and innovation we’re willing to invest to address the unique needs of those who protect and serve communities throughout America,” Fields said.

Rigidly tested, police-tuned
Throughout its development, Ford’s new Police Interceptor has been put through the paces, undergoing a battery of torture tests to ensure its individual components can hold up to the rigorous driving styles of police professionals.

Certification testing designed by the Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department evaluates the durability and capability of the vehicle through a variety of tests where the car’s systems are pushed to the limits for nearly an hour and a half – far exceeding the demands most patrol cars ever experience.

To meet the rigors of the durability testing, the brakes have been increased in size and performance. The cooling package is purpose-built as well, featuring a heavy-duty alternator and larger radiator.  Its honeycomb grille is designed to work in harmony with the interior components, offering more air flow throughout the vehicle. Plus, the standard 18-inch steel wheels are vented, designed to work in concert with the enhanced brake system.

“This vehicle is pursuit-ready,” said Carl Widmann, vehicle engineering manager. “It’s no nonsense, through and through.”

Functional, inside and out
Special features continue inside, too. “Working with our police partners, we’ve considered every detail,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “Approximately 90 percent of the interior has been redesigned to meet the needs of our special police customers.”

Front seats have been specially designed, with a lower bolster removed to better accommodate officers’ utility belts. Inserted into the seatback are anti-stab plates, designed to protect front-seat occupants.

The Police Interceptor second row also has been optimized to address police-specific needs.
The vinyl seats are specially sculpted and set back to improve second-row space and maximize legroom. The back door hinges are modified to open up another 10 degrees versus traditional rear doors.

The Ford Police Interceptor also is equipped with a column shift specifically designed so the console area is free for the ever-increasing amounts of aftermarket police equipment necessary for officers to do their jobs.

The new vehicle also features:

  • BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System): The system uses two radar sensors located in the rear quarter panels to detect vehicles in the surrounding lanes. If a vehicle enters the driver’s blind-spot zones, the system alerts the driver with a warning light in the side-view mirror.
  • Cross Traffic Alert: This system uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot. This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car-widths.
  • Rear View Camera System: When the vehicle is in rear camera mode, a color image with guidance markers on the rear view mirror will assist the driver in backing up.
  • Reverse Sensing System: An audible tone will alert the driver to certain objects up to 6 feet behind the vehicle.
  • Standard AdvanceTrac® ESC (electronic stability control):  This helps maintain the intended path by measuring side-to-side yaw, or skidding, by the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When wheel slip is sensed, AdvanceTrac reduces engine torque and applies selected brakes.
  • Ford SYNC®: The Ford-exclusive, hands-free information system has the potential to be customized and remapped to work specifically with police aftermarket equipment such as lights and sirens, allowing officers to focus on the task at hand.

Ford’s new Police Interceptor sedan will be manufactured at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be offered without interruption when production of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor ends in late 2011.

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6
Mar

Seibu Keisatsu – early Japanese television show races Skyline against Cougar

Thank to Japanese Nostalgic Car (one of our favorite sites) for locating some video from this early eighties Japanese television show: http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2009/03/06/seibu-keisatsus-super-machine/ ”Seibu Keisatsu” translates to “Police: Western Division” and apparently the show was very popular. It ran from the late fall of 1979 thru the fall of 1984 and was followed up with a special return episode in 2004.


While our site was established to focus on car movies of interest to enthusiasts, this classic Japanese television show will also certainly be of great interest. The featured episode below features the delivery of a 2-door Skyline with a 2 liter turbo engine to the police force. One of the first cases to be solved involves some baddies in a 1970 Mercury Cougar – and of course a car chase ensues. The athletic prowess of the Skyline helps ensure everyone meets their inevitable destinies: the police triumph and the baddies perish. The production standards are not bad for it’s age, although the Cougar meets a too easy fate at the end.  And notice the decal on the hood of the Cougar – it was obviously owned by some really bad types.


We owned a 1970 Cougar many years ago and can categorically confirm that it handled very poorly. Ours was also an XR-7 model, although we didn’t have the screaming chicken decal on the hood.


The video is in three parts:










30
Dec

Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum Cop Cars

Have you seen one of these in your rear view mirror?  

We all have the front end of the Crown Vic memorized, so that if we see one our foot automatically hovers over the brake pedal (although a good percentage of ‘vics turn out to be really old people slowly meandering along – whew!).

Now we have to commit to memory two additional grills: that of the Charger and the Magnum. Same bad results if you’re speeding, although if they’re not cops then chances are they are just middle-aged people.

Life is getting tougher and tougher these days. Altogether, just another reason to get a Valentine1 radar detector and religiously use it.

I have the complete set of pics over at the http://www.challengerenthusiast.com website!


Peess Release follows:










 


All-new 2006 Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum Police Vehicles Excel at Michigan State Police Performance Requirements; Dodge Announces Pricing

 


  • Dodge Charger 5.7-liter HEMI
    17
    Sep

    What makes a Crown Vic cop car?

    A picture named 2007-crown-vic-cop-car.jpgThanks to Ford’s own website, you can see what goes into making a ‘Vic Interceptor.


    Ford has done an extensive amount of work preparing the car for police agencies.


    And only official agencies can order one for their own use. So, while this might make an ideal family vehicle (kids locked in back, cage and spit-gaurd in place), the only way to get one is to buy one at auction after the cops are done with it.

    29
    Jun

    Grand Theft Auto Meets Robocop.

    Thieves beware: A robotic reader identifies hot cars by scanning license plates. By Cyrus Farivar. [Wired News]

    28
    Jun

    CHIPS order 200 Boxsters

    What the heck are they doing with sportscars?

    2
    Jul

    2006 Magnum police package?


    Allpar.com (all Mopar, all the time?) has some spy photos purported to be the upcoming 2006 Magnum police package. http://www.allpar.com/squads/current.html



    The Magnum is a fine looking car, and it appears to have been designed very well (with the exception of the intrusive traction control – which you can’t turn off). Last month, my local Dodge dealer took delivery of the first Magnum in the area – fully loaded and painted in a red very similar to that of my Cobra. I spotted it about a half-mile up a service road I was driving on. What I didn’t notice was the cop on a motorcycle hidden in the woods just before the dealer. Fortunately, my V-1 did “notice” for me and I was safe.