Police Cars

It looks like the automakers and law enforcers are equally serious about each other now. We recently saw Ford with the first ever pursuit-rated hybrid SUV, and now, the Australian Police Department has acquired a fleet of Kia Stingers for highway patrolling. The Fleet is set to replace the Ford Falcons and the Holden Commodores in the PD’s. One-fourth of the 200 cars have already started patrolling the streets of Queensland, and the rest will be added in the near future.

FCA has given the Jeep Wrangler a new job this summer – to keep people safe at the beaches of Romagna, Italy as a beach patrol vehicle. The automaker has presented a custom Wrangler to the Italian ‘Carabinieri’, to patrol an 18-mile area of the Romagna Riviera that includes popular resorts. We’re pretty sure the ‘lifesaver’ will be a tourist attraction as well!

We all have drooled over Lamborghinis, Bugattis, and other exotic cars in uniform. The loud grunts from powerful combustion engines when throttled, and the silencers roaring their lungs out in a high-speed drama; but have you thought of a Hybrid police car doing those extreme pursuits? Well, Ford recently revealed the all-new Police Interceptor Utility, which is the first pursuit-rated Hybrid SUV ever. It aims to offer improved performance and lower fuel costs thanks to its hybrid setup.

As consumers scoop up the latest and greatest four-wheeled creations to go about their daily lives, law enforcement agencies are also looking to upgrade their fleets. One of the latest entries in this space is the new cop-prepped Dodge Durango, which offers V-8 power and AWD to stick it to the perps.

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A state trooper from the Florida Highway Patrol is in hot water after being caught — on film — racing a Lamborghini Aventador on a public highway. In the footage, the state trooper can be seen driving a Dodge Charger Pursuit and lining up side by side with the Aventador before both cars engage in a drag race in the middle of the day.

The race to develop autonomous driving technology is taking shape in a number of potential applications. For Ford, it’s not enough to have an autonomous car-sharing service or a self-driving car for the masses. The Blue Oval is thinking out of the box with a vision to put the technology into a police car. It may not be on the level of Skynet just yet, but Ford’s idea of a self-driving police car could be the future of law enforcement on the road.

The chief of road policing in Britain just called for a major crackdown on speeders, arguing that even 1 mph over the limit should incur a penalty. However, critics question whether or not such draconian measures will actually make the roads any safer.

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As the rest of the world looks to hybrid powertrains to help eke out extra mpg at the pump, even law enforcement agencies are getting in on the trend. Adding an extra large battery to a police responder sedan comes with several benefits, all while keeping all the important gear needed to get the job done. Ford’s been providing vehicles to law enforcement since 1950, so it makes sense that the Blue Oval is getting ahead of the game with this electrically assisted four-door. We saw it on the show floor at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show and got a nice selection of exclusive photos, so read on for more details on this latest workhorse for the five-o.

Continue reading to learn more about what makes the Ford Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan special.

When you’re sitting inside a police car, it’s probably better to be in the front seat than in the back. That would mean that you’re sitting shotgun in a joyride or at least, in this case, witnessing what a simulated car chase looks like. Kirk Bell of Motor Authority was able to experience that first-hand when he was invited to the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex in Fort Worth, Texas to get a simulated look at what a car chase looks like from the view of police officers.

Ford just revealed its new Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, framed as an efficient means of transport for “police and fire chiefs, detectives, and other non-pursuit law enforcement personnel.” It’s the first-ever plug-in hybrid police vehicle from the Blue Oval, and it comes with the gear to get the job done without burning too much of the dino juice.

Ford is broadening its already-wide lineup of Special Service Vehicles with a pursuit-rated version of the F-150 pickup. It’s called the F-150 Police Responder, and this F-150 comes standard with the SuperCrew cab and 5.5-foot bed, powered by the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that’s backed by Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission and two-speed transfer case. The F-150 Police Responder is designed for both street- and off-road patrolling duty, making it attractive to agencies in rural environments and Federal outfits like the Border Patrol and Department of Natural Resources.

Specialized equipment exclusive to the F-150 Police Responder includes a police-calibrated speedometer, an engine hour and idle-hour meters, a 240-amp alternator for powering onboard police equipment, and “police-calibrated” brakes with upgraded calipers and pads. (Elwood Blues would be proud.) The cabin also boasts improvements, too. The front bucket seats are wrapped in heavy-duty cloth with thin bolsters designed to better accommodate bulky duty belts. Anti-stab plates are fitted within the seats, protecting against knife attacks from behind. Also, the center seat is deleted, leaving the area open for adding aftermarket police consoles. Suspects and perps are relegated to a vinyl bench seat and the entire cab floor is lined with the black vinyl common in base-model trucks – both designed for easy clean-up. Lastly, the Police Responder comes standard with the FX4 package, meaning it has underbody skid plates, upgraded shocks, and all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch alloy wheels. As equipped, the F-150 Police Responder can tow 7,000 pounds on its Class IV receiver hitch. Expect to see Ford’s latest police vehicle in your rearview mirror by the beginning of 2018.

Continue reading for more on the Ford F-150 Police Responder.

British-based performance automaker BAC (Briggs Automotive Company) and the Isle of Man Government have joined forces to create the world’s first BAC Mono police car. While the single-seater, formula-style supercar probably won’t be used to detain suspects (strap them to the hood?!), it will “become an active member of the fleet and will also be on show at a number of local festivals to encourage safe and responsible driving.”

BAC has worked with the Isle of Man before, as the automaker previously used the local roads for car development, as well as to host various client driving events. The law enforcement iteration gets a special police livery. Tasked with driving the Mono is PC Andy Greaves, a police motorcyclist and collision investigator with advanced driving skill. “We are here to promote safe use of the road, and it’s amazing how many people want to talk to you when this is your transport,” Greaves said.

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