The Baddest Police Vehicles. Taurus Wins...

[csv8]

There is a changing of the guard happening in police cars.

Ford has long been the dominant supplier of police cars, with its Crown Victoria Police Interceptor being the favorite for law enforcement. It's big, roomy and with a V8 engine. It is also an old-style body-on-frame design, which has long made it economical to repair and maintain, versus modern-day uni-body cars.

But Ford had to stop making the Crown Vic last August. It was an old design, terrible in fuel economy, and thus would compromise Ford's overall fuel economy ratings going forward. The new Ford police car is based on the Ford Taurus. But the changing of the guard is opening up the market to law enforcement who have a broad menu of "interceptors" to choose from.

Police precincts are starting to buy up these newer vehicles and the cops are very happy with what they have to offer.

"This is the best car we’ve had in 32 years," said Lt. Steve Bartek, of the Wilton, CT police when asked about his precinct's new Taurus Interceptors. "It’s a big departure from what we’ve had. We’re getting with the program."

Along with the Taurus, we've compiled a gallery of a few of the baddest police vehicles around. You'll be better served to not try outrunning any of these. You probably won't stand a chance.
Check out the Police Raptor !!! http://autos.aol.com/gallery/baddest...ncid=webmail11

[2011G6E]

Erm..."baddest"...? I thought the SS Commodore based one might be good, then I remember reading somewhere how much extra weight they pack into cop cars over there with equipment. Maybe not.

"Better not try outrunning any of these"...?

Please, chuckles...
http://www.autointhenews.com/9-exotic-police-cars/

Now these are cars you don't want to see coming up behind you...

[jpd80]

Actually, the Crown Victoria's fuel economy wasn't that bad for a 4.6 4-speed auto weighing over 1800 Kg..
it actually gave marginally better fuel economy than the Pontiac G8 with a 6-speed auto.. 16/24 mpg Vs 15/24 mpg

[Pandemic]

I wouldn't mind seeing the Ford Taurus Interceptor in Australia.. Looks like an awesome, yet beastly car.

[Moby Vic]

An officer I know (online only) recently tested both the new Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility (neither had EcoBoost).

He liked them both, and said the sedan was great to drive, but apparently getting in and out is a chore when one is laden with gear. The front door doesn't open wide enough, and the B pillar is in the way. Ford can't do anything about the B pillar until the chassis is redesigned.

Rear visibility is horrible in the sedan, also (he said it was no worse than the Charger, though). I test drove a Taurus SHO and noted the poor visibility, but it had a rearview camera.

This officer greatly preferred the utility version, and said it was fun to drive and handled well. He said once a cage is installed the back seat won't have much room, though.

Personally I'd love to get a new EcoBoost sedan to pair with my supercharged Crown Vic.

[UberKnee]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Erm..."baddest"...? I thought the SS Commodore based one might be good, then I remember reading somewhere how much extra weight they pack into cop cars over there with equipment. Maybe not.

"Better not try outrunning any of these"...?

Please, chuckles...
http://www.autointhenews.com/9-exotic-police-cars/

Now these are cars you don't want to see coming up behind you...

Europeans do everything better. Lamborghini cop cars?!

[Moby Vic]

I'm sure Italy can afford Lamborghini cop cars. That's why they're bankrupt.

In the US we draft taxis into service (but we give them dual exhaust).

[phat_stak_tipa]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

Personally I'd love to get a new EcoBoost sedan to pair with my supercharged Crown Vic.

Supercharged crown vic!! Awesome wolf in sheep clothing, what sort of HP is it putting out? and can we see pics?

[Moby Vic]

It makes far less power than the Taurus. It's only a 6 psi kit.

Last time I had it dynoed (when I added a Magnaflow catback) it made 268 hp and 318 lb-ft at the wheels.

It's the slowest supercharged Crown Vic I know of, but it took my quarter mile time from a best of 16 flat stock down to consistent 14.5–14.6 seconds.

It just looks like a white Crown Vic. It sounds funny, though. Next week I'm going to add a Mercury Marauder spoiler that I've had for 2 years. It's a subtle piece, though—no pedestals; it mounts directly to the trunk.

[wrongwaynorris]

The Essex motorway cops used RS 200's back in the 80's . Hands down the best pursuit cop car in the world .

[BaraFGXR6]

Still think the dodge charger 4 door sedan takes the cake for the baddest mutha ********** on the block!

Shame we have dodge in Australia but can get our hands on those bad boys :(

[Pandemic]

Any ideas if they'll start using the Chevrolet Caprice PPV in Australia, since their being made in Australia, and being shipped to the US..?

[BaraFGXR6]

way too big for aus police dude. They would switch to a 4wd type set up if they could but costs prevent them from doing so (and no i dont mean the piece of crap rangers they got now).

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Pandemic

Any ideas if they'll start using the Chevrolet Caprice PPV in Australia, since their being made in Australia, and being shipped to the US..?

There's no point, not when police departments are happy buying Aurions..

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

It makes far less power than the Taurus. It's only a 6 psi kit.

Last time I had it dynoed (when I added a Magnaflow catback) it made 268 hp and 318 lb-ft at the wheels.

It's the slowest supercharged Crown Vic I know of, but it took my quarter mile time from a best of 16 flat stock down to consistent 14.5–14.6 seconds.

It just looks like a white Crown Vic. It sounds funny, though. Next week I'm going to add a Mercury Marauder spoiler that I've had for 2 years. It's a subtle piece, though—no pedestals; it mounts directly to the trunk.

paint it black and white, add some disco light.

and you'll be suprised how freely the traffic moves around you, RE: out of the way.
that should at least get your traffick light times down.

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by jpd80

There's no point, not when police departments are happy buying Aurions..

I've even seen Hydundi i45 or are they called i40? The seden one anyway!!

[Ford_The_Win]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

It makes far less power than the Taurus. It's only a 6 psi kit.

Last time I had it dynoed (when I added a Magnaflow catback) it made 268 hp and 318 lb-ft at the wheels.

It's the slowest supercharged Crown Vic I know of, but it took my quarter mile time from a best of 16 flat stock down to consistent 14.5–14.6 seconds.

It just looks like a white Crown Vic. It sounds funny, though. Next week I'm going to add a Mercury Marauder spoiler that I've had for 2 years. It's a subtle piece, though—no pedestals; it mounts directly to the trunk.

Hah, what a sleeper. Please tell me it has a column shifter and bench seat!

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

The Essex motorway cops used RS 200's back in the 80's . Hands down the best pursuit cop car in the world .

they need them to keep up with the pursuits of stolen RS 200's

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by burnz

paint it black and white, add some disco light.

and you'll be suprised how freely the traffic moves around you, RE: out of the way.
that should at least get your traffick light times down.

No agencies use black and white paint schemes in this part of the country. When I first got the car (2001), it was a lot more effective in traffic than now. Traffic is so heavy here you can't really maneuver through it no matter what, but it's nice on the interstate. A friend of mine described the effect as "like Moses parting the Red Sea."

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

Hah, what a sleeper. Please tell me it has a column shifter and bench seat!

They only made the police version with column shifters. The LX Sport was the only model available with a floor shifter. I got bucket seats. They're flat but very supportive. There's no lateral support whatsoever, though.

I factory ordered the car (you're not supposed to be able to do that), so I've had it since new—11 years. I didn't get many options. I got the silicone hoses, AM/FM cassette (no CD player was available that year for the police version), limited slip differential ($95 well spent), the heavy duty vinyl floor, and a lateral bow support in the roof (I assume it's for supporting the weight of a light bar, but I got it hoping it would make the body stiffer).

I've always enjoyed the car, but it really got fun when I added the supercharger.

By the way, it was rated at 235 hp. Stock it dynoed 198 hp at the wheels.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

The Essex motorway cops used RS 200's back in the 80's . Hands down the best pursuit cop car in the world .

We have a winner in the "don't try outrunning these cars" stakes...

I see an awful lot of police cars out here on the Capricorn Highway every day...every wide load has two cop cars escorting it...and the vast majority of them are Aurions. Now, while the Aurion is a good car and drives well, even though it's a bit vanilla, it's not exactly the greatest car on the road.
Then again, how often do cops need to do 200kph for prolonged periods? How many chases do they get involved in?

Probably what you need in a cop car is indeed something like what the Yanks have asked for in those evaluations...a biggish car (to carry plenty of gear), good load carrying, reasonable economy, comfortable for Plod who has to sit in the damn thing all day long, low cost, and it might not hurt if it had a bit of stick for the very rare occasions they need to chase someone, but it's not really a priority.

[BEN189]

That is a good video on that website about the LAPD using the Caprice PPV. It seems that car ticks all the boxes for the cops, big, roomy, rear drive, V8, modern and very easy to adapt current and future technology to it. I think it will be a winner in the USA.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by BEN189

That is a good video on that website about the LAPD using the Caprice PPV. It seems that car ticks all the boxes for the cops, big, roomy, rear drive, V8, modern and very easy to adapt current and future technology to it. I think it will be a winner in the USA.

Where have you been, its been a bit of a failure. The most they have sold in one month is about 160.

Its too expensive compared to the others.

[Pandemic]

The Ford Territory looks pretty sweet.. Australian version of the Ford Explorer Interceptor?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Where have you been, its been a bit of a failure. The most they have sold in one month is about 160.
.

They sold 313 last month....US third party supply logistics is killing them.

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by BEN189

That is a good video on that website about the LAPD using the Caprice PPV. It seems that car ticks all the boxes for the cops, big, roomy, rear drive, V8, modern and very easy to adapt current and future technology to it. I think it will be a winner in the USA.

Police don't like the console shifter.

[Iggypoppin']

Don't they have F6 and HSV pursuit cars in QLD? I wouldn't want to be involved in a high speed chase with them!! Scarier than an Avalon for sure.
I have always been fascinated with the crown Vic. Such a simple car made to last, whilst doing such a tough job. Rugged, basic, cheap, no wonder the police loved them.

[Pandemic]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Don't they have F6 and HSV pursuit cars in QLD? I wouldn't want to be involved in a high speed chase with them!! Scarier than an Avalon for sure.
I have always been fascinated with the crown Vic. Such a simple car made to last, whilst doing such a tough job. Rugged, basic, cheap, no wonder the police loved them.

Yeah, not sure exactly which police force use them, but the F6's are being used,

[2011G6E]

Yep, I got pulled up by a black GT Falcon driving the old WB ute home from Wondai on a permit just for a check, and I've seen various HSV's and FPV's around in the candy stripe colours.

[BEN189]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Where have you been, its been a bit of a failure. The most they have sold in one month is about 160.

Its too expensive compared to the others.

Only because of the Aussie dollar

[BEN189]

Originally Posted by Pandemic

Yeah, not sure exactly which police force use them, but the F6's are being used,
image

They are the F6's the NSW police are using for operation taipan.