You know how the upcoming Ford Police Interceptor Sedan is totally not a Taurus? Well, Ford today released images of and information about an upcoming Police Interceptor Utility vehicle which is totally not an Explorer.
This not-an-Explorer cop vehicle is apparently available only with a 3.5-liter V6 making "at least 280 horsepower." The not-a-Taurus cop sedan can be had with either the naturally aspirated V6 or the EcoBoost V6 which are also available in the Taurus, which the Interceptor is totally not like. The not-an-Explorer will be equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with shorter gearing for improved acceleration, compared to the Explorer. It'll be operated via a column-mounted shifter. Ford says two drive trains are available, one of which is AWD, of course, and the other that Ford would like to not say out loud is front-wheel drive. The cop utility wears 18-inch steel wheels.The cargo area, says Ford is "specially calibrated for loads up to 800 pounds."
Ford notes that the utility is 20 percent more fuel efficient than the outgoing Crown Vic-based Police Interceptor with its 4.6-liter V8. The full compliment of electronic doo-dads will be available on the not-an-Explorer including SYNC, blind-spot information system, rear-view camera and that semi-creepy curve-control system that can automatically slow the vehicle by 10 mph in turns.
Both the not-an-Explorer and the not-a-Taurus Interceptors will be available beginning at the end of the 2011, when the Crown Vic finally takes its dirt nap.
More photos and a video after the jump.
agnh says:
02:48 PM, 09/ 1/10
How happy will the coppers be when they need to drive a FWD Explorer quickly? Probably not very.
saxdogg says:
05:44 PM, 09/ 1/10
Our Dept. is thinking about getting the Not-Taurus. The officers are all praying we don't. Front wheel drive is OK handling, but is crap for reliability....at least with all previous FWD police cars it was....maybe these are different.
brn says:
07:59 PM, 09/ 1/10
saxdogg, I believe (hope) Ford is well aware of those concerns. Ford consults with a very large contingent of police officers on the development of it's CVPI and the non-Taurus PI. They've managed to give the non-Taurus PI the strength of the CVPI. Hopefully, they've also managed to give it similar reliability. I don't doubt that they've managed to match the reliability of some of the RWD competition.
I guess we'll see.
charlesb says:
09:19 AM, 09/ 2/10
This thing is a joke and Ford knows it. Only the blue balled would be caught dead in that thing.
saxdogg says:
06:19 PM, 09/ 2/10
I've heard all the testing bits about "hitting speed bumps at 45 mph...the suspension is strong, etc. etc.".... all the POs just remember the travesty that was the Chevy Impala and are afraid of ANY FWD I fear.
I'd like to drive the new Chevy Caprice Interceptor...the Tahoe is quite nice. It handles pretty darn well, too and runs with the crown vics in our driving schools.