Ford: Interceptor 'ultimate' cop car

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Last Updated: March 12. 2010 8:27PM .

Ford: Interceptor 'ultimate' cop car
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Dearborn -- Ford Motor Co. today unveiled its new Police Interceptor -- the replacement for the venerable Crown Victoria.

As The Detroit News first reported last year, it will be based on the same platform as the new Ford Taurus. Ford Americas President Mark Fields promised it would be superior in every way to its predecessor, calling it "the ultimate police vehicle."

"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," he said. "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."

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The new police car will be built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant.

Ken Czubay, Ford's U.S. sales and marketing chief, said it also will deliver up to 25 percent better fuel economy than the Crown Vic, thanks to two new engine offerings:

• A 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower and E85 compatibility.

• A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine will deliver at least 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque.

The new Police Interceptor will feature a six-speed automatic transmission. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions will be available.

"We have an extremely powerful standard engine, and to top that off, we also offer our exclusive EcoBoost technology," said Scott Tobin, Ford vehicle line director for cars and crossovers. "Both are designed for the severe-duty cycle that police engage in on a daily basis."

Ford engineers worked closely with Ford's Police Advisory Board of law enforcement professionals to design and tune the vehicle.

"Their feedback mattered to us," Tobin said. "Safety and durability were at the top of their list. So safety and durability were at the top of ours."

The new Police Interceptor is designed to withstand a 75-mph rear end crash and offers much better rollover protection than the Crown Vic.

The new Police Interceptor will be available as soon as production of the Crown Victoria ends in September 2011.

Ford also is readying a "utility interceptor" that will debut this fall.

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Ford's Police Interceptor more durable than Crown Vic, Ford says
BY BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford introduced its all-new Police Interceptor to a crowd of law enforcement officials today at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas and said it is developing a new sport utility-based police vehicle that it will unveil later this year.




The new Police Interceptor that Ford introduced today will replace the company’s iconic Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, which has dominated police car sales for years.


Ford said the new vehicle is more durable and performs better than the outgoing Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. The new car is based on the same structure as the Ford Taurus full-size sedan and will be built at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant.


“Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety and Ford is answering the call,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas. “Our mission was to give our customers exactly what they need, without compromising Ford’s legendary capability and durability.”


Ford is offering the car with two different engines. The first is a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 263 horsepower and the second is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.


In addition to better performance, the new vehicle’s interior is designed specifically for use by police officers. The seats have areas cut out to make way for utility belts and the interior has space for standard police equipment.


Comfort is less of a priority for the back seat passengers. Both the back seats and floors are vinyl. Sometimes, police officers need to hose out the back seats of their police cars, said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of U.S. sales and marketing.


Last year Ford sold between 40,000 and 50,000 police cars, or about 75% of the market, and Ford intends to maintain that position, Czubay said.


“We are very optimistic that with this vehicle … we could even gain on that,” level of market share, Czubay said.


Ford declined to provide any additional details about the second police vehicle that it is developing. The company said it plans to unveil it by the end of September and said it will be a utility vehicle.


Contact BRENT SNAVELY: 313-222-6512 or [e-mail]

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Ford faces more competition in police car market
By BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford has long dominated the police car market, but will face more competition as it tries to hold onto that market share, even with the all-new Ford Police Interceptor that it is introducing today.




The Crown Victoria, introduced in the early 1980s, has long dominated police car sales and accounts for about 75% of the police car market with annual sales that exceed 45,000, Ford officials said in November.


Ford confirmed last year that the new Interceptor will be based on the company’s Ford Taurus full-size sedan and will replace Ford’s Crown Victoria-based Police Interceptor in 2011.


“The bottom line is they have a police car that defines the American police car,” said Jim Hall, managing director of 2953 Analytics in Birmingham. “Police departments love it for a million reasons, including its durability.”


The new police car will be shown to a group of law enforcement officials in Las Vegas today.


“It will be really interesting to see how Ford talks about the durability of the vehicle, as well as what they have done to make the vehicle easy to service and easy to maintain,” said Erich Merkle, automotive analyst with Autoconomy.com in Grand Rapids.


The new police car was developed with input from Ford’s police advisory board. Ford has previously said the durability of the new car will exceed the existing Crown Victoria version.


However, competition in the police car market is heating up. General Motors, Chrysler and Connersville, Ind.-based Carbon Motors all plan to either increase their market share or launch new police cars.


Chrysler has set a goal of expanding its police car market share from 17% to 40% in the next 12 to 18 months with its rear-wheel drive Dodge Charger police car.


And, in October, GM announced plans to introduce the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle in 2011. GM says the Caprice is a modern, full-size, rear-drive sedan that will offer both V8 and V6 engines.


Carbon Motors, meanwhile, plans to begin producing a vehicle called the E7 in 2012 that is specifically designed for police departments.


The Crown Victoria is built at Ford’s St. Thomas, Ont., plant, which is scheduled to close. The Taurus is built at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant.


Contact BRENT SNAVELY: 313-222-6512 or [e-mail]