Ford Interceptor Press Release

[Anthony]

ALL-NEW FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR PURPOSE-BUILT TO LEAD MARKET, SUPPORT THOSE WHO SERVE, PROTECT

 

• 
   
  
• Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor, engineered to exceed durability, safety and performance of today’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
  
• New Ford Police Interceptor sedan will offer two fuel-efficient powertrain options – including EcoBoost with all wheel-drive – along with an array of safety technologies; interior has been designed to meet unique law enforcement needs
  
• Ford’s new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011
  
• Ford confirms production of an additional Police Interceptor, a utility vehicle that will be pursuit-rated to complement the sedan; vehicle to be revealed later this year.
  

 

Las Vegas, March 12, 2010 – Ford reveals its all-new, purpose-built Police Interceptor sedan today, showcasing a car for law enforcement officials that will exceed the durability, safety, performance and fuel economy of the industry’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria – while also confirming production of a Police Interceptor utility vehicle.

 

Ford, the police vehicle market leader for 15 years, specifically designed and engineered an all-new Police Interceptor to handle the rigors of police work, including industry-leading powertrain, safety and technology innovations.

 

Ford will also add a second Police Interceptor to the lineup, a utility vehicle to provide customers a choice of the best vehicle to suit their needs. More details will be released in the third quarter of this year.

 

“Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety, and Ford is answering the call with a purpose-built vehicle – engineered and built in America – that’s as dynamic as it is durable,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.

 

To develop the all-new Police Interceptor, Ford engineers worked hand-in-hand with Ford’s Police Advisory Board of law enforcement professionals, which provided input on key vehicle attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality.

 

“Their feedback mattered to us,” said Scott Tobin, Ford vehicle line director for cars and crossovers. “Safety and durability were at the top of their list. So safety and durability were at the top of ours.”

 

A focus on safety

Continuing Ford’s safety leadership includes engineering the Police Interceptor to pass 75-mph rear-end crash testing. Currently, the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is the only pursuit sedan to meet this test.

 

The new Police Interceptor also features Ford’s exclusive Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system to help protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollover and side-impact crashes. The multiple side-curtain air bags use Ford’s unique Roll Fold technology to help them slip between the occupant and the side window.

 

Increased power, enhanced sophistication

Ford’s Police Interceptor engine strategy will provide a V-6 lineup that performs equal to or better than V-8 engines. The lineup comes with two powertrain options, allowing police to choose the powerhouse that best meets their patrol requirements.

 

A highly efficient 3.5-liter V-6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower and E85 compatibility is 25 percent more efficient than the 4.6-liter Single Overhead Cam (SOHC) V-8 offered in the current Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

 

Plus, an all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine will deliver at least 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque across a broad rpm range.

 

“We have an extremely powerful standard engine, and to top that off, we also offer our exclusive EcoBoost technology,” said Tobin. “Both are designed for the severe-duty cycle that police engage in on a daily basis.”

 

EcoBoost brings municipalities and police fleet administrators the first ultra high-performance, yet environmentally friendly, police pursuit vehicle. Offering performance that bests normally aspirated V-8 powered police cruisers and comparable fuel economy and CO2 emissions to the standard V-6, EcoBoost represents a triple-win for police departments, the tax-paying constituents they serve and the environment they help collectively to preserve.

 

A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission delivers the power of EcoBoost to the road via the sophisticated torque-sensing all-wheel-drive system.

 

“Ford remains committed to leading the police vehicle market, and our new Police Interceptor demonstrates how much engineering and innovation we’re willing to invest to address the unique needs of those who protect and serve communities throughout America,” Fields said.

 

Rigidly tested, police-tuned

Throughout its development, Ford’s new Police Interceptor has been put through the paces, undergoing a battery of torture tests to ensure its individual components can hold up to the rigorous driving styles of police professionals.

 

Certification testing designed by the Michigan State Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department evaluates the durability and capability of the vehicle through a variety of tests where the car’s systems are pushed to the limits for nearly an hour and a half – far exceeding the demands most patrol cars ever experience.

 

To meet the rigors of the durability testing, the brakes have been increased in size and performance. The cooling package is purpose-built as well, featuring a heavy-duty alternator and larger radiator. Its honeycomb grille is designed to work in harmony with the interior components, offering more air flow throughout the vehicle. Plus, the standard 18-inch steel wheels are vented, designed to work in concert with the enhanced brake system.

 

“This vehicle is pursuit-ready,” said Carl Widmann, vehicle engineering manager. “It’s no nonsense, through and through.”

 

Functional, inside and out

Special features continue inside, too. “Working with our police partners, we’ve considered every detail,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “Approximately 90 percent of the interior has been redesigned to meet the needs of our special police customers.”

 

Front seats have been specially designed, with a lower bolster removed to better accommodate officers’ utility belts. Inserted into the seatback are anti-stab plates, designed to protect front-seat occupants.

 

The Police Interceptor second row also has been optimized to address police-specific needs.

The vinyl seats are specially sculpted and set back to improve second-row space and maximize legroom. The back door hinges are modified to open up another 10 degrees versus traditional rear doors.

 

The Ford Police Interceptor also is equipped with a column shift specifically designed so the console area is free for the ever-increasing amounts of aftermarket police equipment necessary for officers to do their jobs.

 

The new vehicle also features:

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• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System): The system uses two radar sensors located in the rear quarter panels to detect vehicles in the surrounding lanes. If a vehicle enters the driver’s blind-spot zones, the system alerts the driver with a warning light in the side-view mirror.
  
• Cross Traffic Alert: This system uses the existing BLIS radar modules to sense oncoming traffic when slowly backing out of a parking spot. This industry-exclusive system functions only while the vehicle is in reverse and warns when cross-traffic appears within three car-widths.
  
• Rear View Camera System: When the vehicle is in rear camera mode, a color image with guidance markers on the rear view mirror will assist the driver in backing up.
  
• Reverse Sensing System: An audible tone will alert the driver to certain objects up to 6 feet behind the vehicle.
  
• Standard AdvanceTrac® ESC (electronic stability control): This helps maintain the intended path by measuring side-to-side yaw, or skidding, by the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When wheel slip is sensed, AdvanceTrac reduces engine torque and applies selected brakes.
  
• Ford SYNC®: The Ford-exclusive, hands-free information system has the potential to be customized and remapped to work specifically with police aftermarket equipment such as lights and sirens, allowing officers to focus on the task at hand.
  

 

Ford’s new Police Interceptor sedan will be manufactured at Ford’s Chicago (Ill.) Assembly Plant and will be offered without interruption when production of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor ends in late 2011.

[FoMoCobra]

Wow... Ford sticking to its AWD/FWD Guns

 

Nice looking car and great police chase entry behind the CV on the web broadcast this morning!

 

As i suspected: No "Taurus" badging or even a mention of it.

 

3.5L EcoBoost is the consolation prize for RWD fans

[papilgee4evaeva]

Wow... Ford sticking to its AWD/FWD Guns

 

Nice looking car and great police chase entry behind the CV on the web broadcast this morning!

 

As i suspected: No "Taurus" badging or even a mention of it.

 

3.5L EcoBoost is the consolation prize for RWD fans

 

Nah, the RWD fans (specifically the Panther Mafia ) all say that EB is garbage... as if a 224-hp V8 and what is soon to be Ford's only 4-speed automatic available in North America were the best thing in the world and should NEVER be replaced...

[papilgee4evaeva]

i rather the police have no vehicles at all.

 

Given some of your previous comments, I'm not surprised to see you say something like that.

 

If I'm in an accident, I'd rather the cops not have to walk to where I am...

[Mark B. Morrow]

Given some of your previous comments, I'm not surprised to see you say something like that.

 

If I'm in an accident, I'd rather the cops not have to walk to where I am...

 

 

I feel the same way if I'm being robbed.

[Deanh]

Nah, the RWD fans (specifically the Panther Mafia ) all say that EB is garbage... as if a 224-hp V8 and what is soon to be Ford's only 4-speed automatic available in North America were the best thing in the world and should NEVER be replaced...

touches on a previous post of mine, fear of change an inability to embrace progress....hmmm, sounds like dust farting fuddy duddys in Congress.....

[Edstock]

sounds like dust farting fuddy duddys in Congress.....

Uh, that's not dust . . .

[Deanh]

Uh, that's not dust . . .

they drive Crown Vics as well??????lol

[oogravyoo]

[Deanh]

see....THAT looks NOTHING like the mainstream Taurus....cool graphics that will never see the light of day....

[oogravyoo]

forgot the link.

 

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1003/gallery.ford_police_interceptor/index.html?hpt=T2

[NickF1011]

Interesting that it includes Sync.

 

"Sirens on."

 

"Play song 'I Fought the Law'."

[rmc523]

Interesting that it includes Sync.

 

"Sirens on."

 

"Play song 'I Fought the Law'."

 

 

Yeah, I suggested that a while back - it only makes sense to me.

[Noah Harbinger]

I feel the same way if I'm being robbed.

 

I.e. you want them to take the report and do nothing AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

[Noah Harbinger]

see....THAT looks NOTHING like the mainstream Taurus....cool graphics that will never see the light of day....

 

And here I thought that was just a good photoshop when I saw it.

 

Oh well, at least it has a different name...

[jpd80]

It all comes down to how Ford "sells" the new PI to police departments.

 

The best thing they can do is get some units out there embedded with PDs right now for in field real life seat time from officers that have to live with them. If Ford are genuine about the PI being a successor to the CVPI, they have to do this and be prepared to deal with criticism in areas ahead of the new product's roll out...

Edited March 12, 2010 by jpd80

[BrewfanGRB]

Given some of your previous comments, I'm not surprised to see you say something like that.

 

If I'm in an accident, I'd rather the cops not have to walk to where I am...

 

Yep, because AFTER I'm in the accident, AFTER some piece of garbage committed a traffic offense involving me in that accident, the gosh darn wonderful police will be there to save my life. Meh.

 

I see more Wisconsin State Patrol officers busy handing out speeding tickets than actually saving people's lives...ala the guy GOING THE WRONG WAY on a multi-lane divided highway coming in my direction. Never caught. Or the guy who was found to have BAC of 0.23 crashing through a fence, crossing 2 lanes of southbound traffic, going through the median, into the ditch on the other side, turning around and going south in the northbound lanes. Caught...after killing 3 people. Good thing the cops could get there quickly. I'm sure all available officers were too busy handing out DUIs to guys blowing .08 after 2 drinks at dinner to be bothered to stop a muderously intoxicated driver. Thanks, MADD.

 

Sorry for the rant. But the day a WSP officer does something that actually protects or serves me, I will gladly shut my mouth and move on. Instead we have MADD handing out awards for the most DUIs written by one officer. And yet, 545 people died on Wisconsin roads last year.

 

NOW, OTOH, officers patrolling downtown and the northside of Milwaukee, I wouldn't wish their jobs on anyone. That's actual police work. Sitting in a crossover zapping people with a radar gun is not.

 

Put 'em in Cobalts.

Edited March 13, 2010 by BrewfanGRB

[papilgee4evaeva]

Yep, because AFTER I'm in the accident, AFTER some piece of garbage committed a traffic offense involving me in that accident, the gosh darn wonderful police will be there to save my life. Meh.

 

Nah, that'd be the paramedics (if necessary). Police for the filing of the report.

 

I see more Wisconsin State Patrol officers busy handing out speeding tickets than actually saving people's lives...ala the guy GOING THE WRONG WAY on a multi-lane divided highway coming in my direction. Never caught. Or the guy who was found to have BAC of 0.23 crashing through a fence, crossing 2 lanes of southbound traffic, going through the median, into the ditch on the other side, turning around and going south in the northbound lanes. Caught...after killing 3 people. Good thing the cops could get there quickly. I'm sure all available officers were too busy handing out DUIs to guys blowing .08 after 2 drinks at dinner to be bothered to stop a muderously intoxicated driver. Thanks, MADD.

 

Sorry for the rant. But the day a WSP officer does something that actually protects or serves me, I will gladly shut my mouth and move on. Instead we have MADD handing out awards for the most DUIs written by one officer. And yet, 545 people died on Wisconsin roads last year.

 

NOW, OTOH, officers patrolling downtown and the northside of Milwaukee, I wouldn't wish their jobs on anyone. That's actual police work. Sitting in a crossover zapping people with a radar gun is not.

 

Put 'em in Cobalts.

 

Points all taken, Brewfan, Sounds like WSP sucks... and sounds like MADD is particularly overactive in your area.

 

You seem like a reasonable enough guy, so I can understand your ranting. Now, if you were one of those "screw the police, they're pulling me over for doing 60 over, those pigs should be doing their job" type people, then we'd be having a more "spirited" back-and-forth.

 

But I do have to pick on your last sentence. Say, if a state trooper is in the median with radar and happens to spot the car of a driver who is obviously intoxicated, that driver should be pulled off the road as quickly as possible, right? Unless the cop is in a Cobalt SS, that guy's getting away easily. Otherwise, he's as good as gone.

 

.

[jpd80]

That's the way you carry prisoners, maybe Transit Connect paddy wagons:

 

[Anthony]

A lot is going to come down to one thing. Price. Can a $35K+ Ecoboost Taurus be decontented enough (while adding in the unique police goodies) to the point where it is profitable to Ford while still being affordable for PD's?

 

I've got a feeling most will see the FWD 3.5L. Then it comes down to price and being able to persuade PD's that are accustomed to RWD V8 patrol cars why they should buy it over a (guessing) comparably priced V8 Charger or Caprice.

 

It looks like a great car. We already know the Taurus itself is an incredible car. But can this be an incredible police car at an affordable price? That's the big question. We'll find out within the next year.

[mercury]

Odd that it doesnt come with either the 305 HP 3.7L or the 285 HP TIVCT 3.5L as a base motor.

[SVT_MAN]

Yep, because AFTER I'm in the accident, AFTER some piece of garbage committed a traffic offense involving me in that accident, the gosh darn wonderful police will be there to save my life. Meh.

 

I see more Wisconsin State Patrol officers busy handing out speeding tickets than actually saving people's lives...ala the guy GOING THE WRONG WAY on a multi-lane divided highway coming in my direction. Never caught. Or the guy who was found to have BAC of 0.23 crashing through a fence, crossing 2 lanes of southbound traffic, going through the median, into the ditch on the other side, turning around and going south in the northbound lanes. Caught...after killing 3 people. Good thing the cops could get there quickly. I'm sure all available officers were too busy handing out DUIs to guys blowing .08 after 2 drinks at dinner to be bothered to stop a muderously intoxicated driver. Thanks, MADD.

 

Sorry for the rant. But the day a WSP officer does something that actually protects or serves me, I will gladly shut my mouth and move on. Instead we have MADD handing out awards for the most DUIs written by one officer. And yet, 545 people died on Wisconsin roads last year.

 

NOW, OTOH, officers patrolling downtown and the northside of Milwaukee, I wouldn't wish their jobs on anyone. That's actual police work. Sitting in a crossover zapping people with a radar gun is not.

 

Put 'em in Cobalts.

 

I somewhat agree with your analysis on the inadequacies of our police force, but the whole drinking and driving thing is a plague that Wisconsin has had for a LONG, LONG time. Our state lets people get away with FAR too many DUIs before locking up. The problem with drinking and driving isn't something that can really be prevented by increased police force, in my opinion, at least. I knew good people who I considered to be "clean living" in college who would drink and drive. After they did that, I did not consider them "clean" anymore, but it just blew my mind how warped the culture is here in Wisconsin. One of my friends I actually had to break off my friendship with because it was so ridiculous. I could not force myself to care about someone who didn't care for themselves enough to call a cab or a friend (I offered ...).

 

I don't think drinking and driving can be prevented in most cases actually. The people I've been friends with who drink and drive maintain in their heads that their tolerance for alcohol makes them good enough to drive. You know it as well as I do: our state's culture is to drink heavily, often. I have considered moving out of this state for that reason alone many times. The tavern lobby in this state is lousy for many reasons, but the DUI thing irks me to no end! I don't have a problem with people drinking alcohol responsibly; I have a problem with HOW alcohol is consumed around here. I do not drink alcohol because of health conditions that I have (and I wouldn't drink it anyway, because I have no desire to), but I think our state's drinking habits are out of control.

 

But I do have to pick on your last sentence. Say, if a state trooper is in the median with radar and happens to spot the car of a driver who is obviously intoxicated, that driver should be pulled off the road as quickly as possible, right? Unless the cop is in a Cobalt SS, that guy's getting away easily. Otherwise, he's as good as gone.

 

What difference does it make anyway? There isn't anything that can outrun a Motorola.

 

Stopping a driver who is drunk is often too late. Milwaukee and Wisconsin have a big CULTURE problem. Change the culture, change the problem. I know, hard to do when your baseball team is named the BREWERS. Come to Wisconsin, where you can drink with your parents at any age.

 

The bottom line is that most of the danger around here is related to drunk driving.

 

 

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/59370337.html

 

You want to explain to me why Wisconsin allows a guy to get 4 OWIs before doing anything? Oh yeah, Tavern lobby *grits teeth and snarls* ...

 

 

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=site:jsonline.com+%22i-43%22+%22drunk%22&start=20&sa=N&fp=f8bc9ba0718e9555

 

Take a look there ... I-43 and Drunk as Keywords on the Journal Sentinel - over 2100 entries. The roads around here really aren't that dangerous. It's the DRUNK drivers. Get them off the road!

Edited March 13, 2010 by SVT_MAN

[StevenCaylor]

Odd that it doesnt come with either the 305 HP 3.7L or the 285 HP TIVCT 3.5L as a base motor.

 

Considering that it will be either a 2011 or 2012 model, it will have the same base engine as the regular Taurus, i.e., the 285 hp TiVCT 3.5. And that's running 87 octane. Who knows what the output will be on high octane E85.

[SVT_MAN]

touches on a previous post of mine, fear of change an inability to embrace progress....hmmm, sounds like dust farting fuddy duddys in Congress.....

 

Only you would compare a Crown Victoria to a politician.

[jpd80]

Only you would compare a Crown Victoria to a politician.

 

Strangely, Ford created the dilema by not updating the panther and keeping its appearance old, we now have a huge change coming and everyone switches to Taurus, a huge opinion vacuum until the dust settles.