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Also: Videos Show Police Interceptor’s Mettle , 2012 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor
Did we nail this one or what? Back in November we reported that Ford was developing an all new Police Interceptor. In that article we suggested it would be based on the all new Ford Taurus and even created a rendering of what it might look like.
Today Ford has pulled the cover off the all new Ford Taurus Police Interceptor that will replace the aged Ford Crown Victoria based cruiser. The Crown Victoria and its platform mates will go out of production in 2011.
The new Ford Tarus Police Interceptor will be available with both the standard 3.5 liter 263hp DOHC V6 or your local department can opt for an AWD EcoBoost 3.5 liter twin turbo model with 365hp. Either choice is more powerful and more efficient than the outgoing V8 powered Crown Victoria. A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission delivers the power of EcoBoost with all-wheel-drive while the standard V6 models will be front-drive.
For the men in blue, the new Tuaurs represents the latest safety design and technology. One big area of safety for officers is the fuel tank which is now located under the back seat, utilizing the same saddle-bag type tank arrangement found in the Ford Mustang. Crown Victorias made a lot of news in the past decade with vehicle fires due to extreme rear-end collisions. The new Ford Taurus Police Interceptor has been subjected to stringent 75-mph rear-end crash testing to win the confidence of police departments.
One of the areas of concern for all police fleets is durability. In the past, departments have loved the bulletproof simplicity of the Crown Victoria. Ford says its new Taurus Police Interceptor has been put through a lot of torturous tests to make sure the chassis, drivetrain and suspension components can handle the rough and tumble grind of police work. You’ve seen those cruisers make a fast U-turn in the center median of the freeway. That is rough on a car every day.
Upgrades to the car to meet police duy include larger brakes, special cooling package with larger radiator and a larger alternator to power the many electronics that police need. The wheels are 18″ stamped steel. Inside, 90% of the Taurus interior has been reworked. The shifter has been moved from the console to the column. Front seat bolsters have been redesigned to accommodate ease of entry and exit. Plates have been added to seatbacks to prevent stabbing from behind. The rear seat has been reconfigured to make more room for a cuffed guest and the rear doors open an additional 10 degrees for ease of ingress and egress.
While most cop cars come pretty stripped, the Ford Taurus Police Interceptor has some of Ford’s best new gizmos including their radar based monitoring system that alerts drivers of cross traffic, blind-spot obstacles and rear radar chimes for safety. A rear view camera system is optional as are ballistic door inserts to protect against gunfire.
Overall the new Ford Taurus Police Interceptor is pretty cool looking, reminding us of Robocop’s Taurus cruiser a little. The question will be whether police departments want to give up their rear-wheel drive. Ford will have to compete with the rear wheel drive Dodge Charger and GM’s soon to be unveiled rear wheel drive Caprice police vehicle.
In today’s statements Ford said they will also add a sport utility vehicle to the Police Interceptor to the lineup. If we had to guess, it will be based on the soon to be introduced 2011 Ford Explorer.
