📰 Auto News Source: Next-gen Ford Police Interceptor will debut this Friday in Las Vegas

[Mook]

Hold on to your sap gloves and night sticks – it's that time of the decade! An Autoblog source reveals that Ford is about to release a brand spankin' new Police Interceptor. Not only is this humongous news for our pals in the law enforcement community, but this is 120-point headline font for taxi companies around the country, as they typically buy old Police Interceptors with 90,000 miles on 'em and repurpose them as the cabs we all know and love passing out in. Why? Because Police Interceptors are the toughest passenger cars money can buy.

Few of us have the need to drive over curbs at 50+ mph, but if that need arises, you're going to want to do so in an Interceptor. Aside from the "severe duty" shocks, you get a beefed up frame and body mounts. Yes, that is correct. The Crown Victoria-based Police Interceptor is body-on-frame. Listen, when you're PIT maneuvering a perp during a high speed chase, the last thing you want to worry about is bending the chassis. Plus you got them heavy duty brakes, suspension components and oil coolers. A sweet package, no doubt.

Here's the thing though. If this new Police Interceptor is more than a package, what platform will it ride on? Ford has stated publicly that it's ending the geriatric Panther Platform Crown Victoria's life in 2011. We'll go ahead and interpret that to mean that this new Police Interceptor won't be Crown Victoria-based. Do we know that for sure? No, but it's a logical bit of speculation. Could the new Interceptor be Taurus-based, maybe something with a SHO motor and stouter brakes? Again, yes, but for all we know the upcoming car's a Fiesta with the Mustang GT's new 5.0-liter V8 crammed in the rear seat. Or one of them apocryphal Australia-only rear-drive Falcons. All we know for sure is that Ford's introducing a new Police Interceptor to a select group of folks in Las Vegas this Friday. Production? Concept? We're not entirely sure yet. More details when we get them.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/10/ford-police-interceptor-revealed-this-friday/

Click to read more...

 

[SRT41320]

inforpics

 

[espresso8097]

They already have a perfectly good one being used in Australia, the Falcon. Just need to make a left-hand drive model. Probably won't do anything like this though, but I can dream.

 

[Bru]

Aussie interceptor would be cool. Will probably just be a Taurus, though.

 

[EmersonHart13]

They might pull a GM and bring it over, but I doubt it. I predict Taurus.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Falcon would be epic!

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

We could have our own v8 supercar series!

 

[02BlueGT]

This is due to GM wanting to release a version of the G8 as a police interceptor.... They are competing on every front

 

[Bru]

Wanting to? It's official. It's their sedan that's larger than the G8 and they're calling it a Caprice over here.

 

[Mook]

from autoblog

Just a quick note: The Detroit News is reporting that the next Ford Police Interceptor will be based on the same platform as the Taurus. For you platform geeks out there, that's the Ford D3 chassis that underpins everything from the the Lincoln MKS to the Volvo XC90 to the Ford Flex (though the Flex and the Lincoln MKT ride on a lengthened version called D4). Yesterday, we explained that a new Police Interceptor is showing up tomorrow (Friday, March 12) in Las Vegas and that it probably won't be riding on the Panther platform. Regardless, the concept will be unveiled at the Vegas Motor Speedway.

There's still no official word from Ford on the matter, however. However, if the new Interceptor is in fact Taurus-based, that means no rear-wheel drive Falcon in the United States. Which is a definite bummer. Also, while there are all-wheel drive variants of the D3 platform – and we think it's safe to assume that if the new Police Interceptor is D3-based it will be AWD – it lacks frame rails. Has Ford figured out a way to make a unibody car tough enough for police work? We shall see. And if the new PI is a Taurus, will it be based on a modified 365-horsepower SHO? We'd wager yes. Let's just hope they fit some bigger brakes for cop duty, eh?

 

[Bru]

I don't think they'll run the Ecoboost. Too much money. Most police Chargers are six-bangers anyways because departments don't want to spend the money on the Hemis. If they do offer it, the Ecoboost won't be the volume seller, just like the consumer version.

 

[Dasfinc]

I have to give some props to ford for 'keeping it in the bag' so long, hopefully it will be like their new HD trucks and be a bit of a surprise.

 

[EmersonHart13]

Does ecoboost run on 87?

 

[EmersonHart13]

 

[EmersonHart13]

For the Previous Gen SHO

 

[Bru]

Does ecoboost run on 87?

It can, but you won't get max power. It's one of those recommended, but not required deals to run premium.

 

[Bru]

Jalopnik

http://jalopnik.com/5491850/2012-ford-police-interceptor-the-crown-vics-robocop-replacement

Ford's Crown Victoria-based police interceptor will finally end production late next year. This is its replacement — the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor. It's the first time, other than the movie Robocop, a Ford Taurus has served as a patrol car.

Ford first introduced its police package in 1950 and today the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the industry leader. They've dominated the segment to the point that over the last five years, Ford's controlled more than 70% of the segment. Unfortunately, the Crown Vic's Panther-platform's getting a little long in the tooth. The replacement? an all-new Police Interceptor built off the Ford Taurus platform that will be produced at Ford's Chicago, Ill. assembly plant.

The new Police Interceptor sedan will obviously offer two powertrain options in order to be competitive with the upcoming Chevy Caprice PPV. The first'll be a standard engine with a 3.5-liter V6 Duratec engine producing more than the Crown Vic's current anemic V8 and more than the standard Taurus V6. We're even hearing it'll be at least 275-280 HP. But it's the second powertrain that police officers'll be pining for — a twin turbo Ecoboost 3.5-liter V6 delivering 365 HP and 350 lb-ft of torque. That's the same engine found in the new Taurus SHO and it gives Ford a performance boost over the new GM patrol car — the Chevy Caprice PPV — that'll be hitting the streets at about the same time as the new Police Interceptor.

There's also an optional AWD system for the members of the Fargo police department and any other P.D.'s with need of more-than-front-wheel drivetrain police cruisers.

And oh, that interior. We're told by police forces who've already seen the vehicle that nearly 90% of the interior's been redesigned specifically for police. Ford's done little things — like installing the slimline shifter on the column to free up more console area. The instrument panel includes a horseshoe shape for aftermarket equipment installations. It even appears they've thoughtfully provided standard 9" spacing between the passenger and driver — just like the Crown Vic — so agencies can transfer existing aftermarket equipment to their new Police Interceptor. Ford's also supposedly redesigned the doors to make them open 71 degrees. That's not quite as good as the Carbon Motors concept's suicide doors, but not too shabby — and better than the Caprice PPV it'll really be in competition with.

We can also see that there's a 220 amp alternator to provide officers with all the power they'll need for computers, lights and the like — and we're told by suppliers there's a flexible conduit inside the headliner for ease of wiring aftermarket equipment. Lastly, don't forget the anti-stab plate in the back of the front seats — for your protection from shiv-equipped baddies in the back seat.

But that's the near-term future. The long-term future reportedly include a second Police Interceptor that'll be available as a "utility version" built on the same platform. Yup, a Ford Flex-based Interceptor.

Mostly, we're just excited to see a Taurus used as a Police Interceptor because it's just one more step in the eventual evolution of Detroit police officers into Robocop. How exciting!

 

[Bru]

I think it looks badass

 

[EmersonHart13]

It can, but you won't get max power. It's one of those recommended, but not required deals to run premium.

Well they will have to detune because municipalities only run 87 and sometimes diesel.

 

[Primalzer]

Will it hold up to the daily grind? I've been hearing from my buddies dad who works in Hainesville, that a lot of departments are dissapointed with the chargers because they are not holding up to the day to day abuse. The Crown Vic for all it's faults was a body on frame, and that helps a lot, but these new cap cars are all uni-body, and I'm really wondering how long they'll be able to hold up.

 

[EmersonHart13]

The Intrepids did not seem to do to well, but the Impala cop cars seem to be doing alright.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I'm pretty sure that's the same question the articles are asking.....

Well I'm pretty sure the dodge intrepid was a failure as a police car. I'd say the impala was also but not nearly as bad


Edit: damn you John!

 

[Bru]

The common denominator between the Charger and Intrepid is that they're both Chrysler products

And that most police Chargers are V-6s, which is a garbage engine. The Hemi's have held up better as far as consumer reliability. But police duty is obviously drastically different.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I'm surprised they were able to sell the intrepid as a police car. They're such horrible piles of shit.

 

[Mook]