Ford has released the Police Interceptor Utility, considered by the Michigan State Police as the fastest police car available for 2019. The new Interceptor is based on the yet-to-be-unveiled Explorer SUV. It replaces the outgoing Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility model and the Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan. The new Police Interceptor Utility is more than just a fast law enforcement vehicle; it’s also loaded with state-of-the-art technology the likes of which the production version of the new Explorer won’t have. That comes with the territory of being a cop car.

The Full Story

According to the Michigan State Police’s annual in-depth testing of every police vehicle in the market today, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility is the one law enforcement vehicle you don’t want to tangle with. That’s because the MSP’s testing revealed that it’s the quickest police vehicle available for 2019.

According to the Michigan State Police’s data, a new Police Interceptor Utility that’s powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with all-wheel drive capability can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.77 seconds. For comparison’s sake, the next quickest police vehicle in the MSP’s test is the 5.7-liter V-8-powered Dodge Charger with all-wheel drive capability, which can hit 0 to 60 mph in 5.87 seconds.

The Ford Police Interceptor Utility’s acceleration time also holds sway up to 100 mph, where it beat out the competition in timed laps at the Michigan State Police’s test track. The MSP also tested versions of the Police Interceptor Utility that carried a naturally aspirated 3.3-liter V-6 engine, as well as units that are powered by a hybrid powertrain. Neither version came close to topping the twin-turbocharged V-6 unit, and by the looks of it, unless you have a performance car at your disposal, you’re going to have a tough time getting rid of the Police Interceptor Utility when it’s chasing you in the streets of America.

The SUV hasn’t hit the market yet, but if it accelerates as well as the MSP’s study says it does, it’s going to be interesting to see how the production model is going to perform when it hits the market. That’s especially true for the ST variant, which is looking like a can’t-miss trim level from where we’re standing at the moment.

All the same, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility is one police vehicle that you don’t want to mess with. If you do find yourselves in its crosshairs, we wish you nothing but good fortune. There’s a good chance that you’re going to need every ounce of luck you can get.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility.

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Explorer Sport.