California chooses Ford Explorer Police Interceptor as next patrol car
#16
MPGs are better on the explorer interceptor than the old crown vics.
I wouldnt doubt if they handled better too
"Ford says the Explorer is at least 20 percent more fuel efficient than the outgoing Crown Victoria PI, which used a thirsty 4.6-liter V-8. "
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/for...ceptor-utility
I wouldnt doubt if they handled better too
"Ford says the Explorer is at least 20 percent more fuel efficient than the outgoing Crown Victoria PI, which used a thirsty 4.6-liter V-8. "
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/for...ceptor-utility
#18
Ford Explorer is America's new favorite police car
here is a new vehicle that you should keep an eye out for when you're going a little too fast down the Interstate. Ford's Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility was the bestselling new law enforcement model in the country last year, and signs show that won't be changing anytime soon.
Ford sold 14,086 Interceptor Utilities in 2013, up 140% from the year before, and 10,897 Interceptor Sedans, up 31%, according to USA Today. Overall, the brand's police sales were up 48 percent, and they were enough to boost the company's law enforcement vehicle market share by 9 points to nearly 50 percent.
The success comes just a few years after it made the decision to finally retire the long-serving Crown Victoria-based cruiser for two more modern vehicles. "We had to reinvent the category," said Chris Terry of Ford Communications to Autoblog. The automaker had to convince police departments that a unibody chassis without a V8 could perform better than a model that had been a law enforcement staple for years.
The keys to the transition have been the Utility's space, performance and standard all-wheel drive. The truck's extra storage space has been welcomed by officers who are being asked to be first responders in many situations, and the EcoBoost version has been the fastest in its class the last three years of testing by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. Plus, even in places that don't experience much inclement weather, the added traction from AWD is an advantage.
According to Terry, when Ford introduced the new emergency vehicles, it expected sales to be split roughly 50-50 between the Explorer and Taurus. But at times it "has run as high 70 percent Utility." The company appears to have read the market well. As more law enforcement agencies drop their aging Crown Vics, the Blue Oval has replacements at the ready.
Ford sold 14,086 Interceptor Utilities in 2013, up 140% from the year before, and 10,897 Interceptor Sedans, up 31%, according to USA Today. Overall, the brand's police sales were up 48 percent, and they were enough to boost the company's law enforcement vehicle market share by 9 points to nearly 50 percent.
The success comes just a few years after it made the decision to finally retire the long-serving Crown Victoria-based cruiser for two more modern vehicles. "We had to reinvent the category," said Chris Terry of Ford Communications to Autoblog. The automaker had to convince police departments that a unibody chassis without a V8 could perform better than a model that had been a law enforcement staple for years.
The keys to the transition have been the Utility's space, performance and standard all-wheel drive. The truck's extra storage space has been welcomed by officers who are being asked to be first responders in many situations, and the EcoBoost version has been the fastest in its class the last three years of testing by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. Plus, even in places that don't experience much inclement weather, the added traction from AWD is an advantage.
According to Terry, when Ford introduced the new emergency vehicles, it expected sales to be split roughly 50-50 between the Explorer and Taurus. But at times it "has run as high 70 percent Utility." The company appears to have read the market well. As more law enforcement agencies drop their aging Crown Vics, the Blue Oval has replacements at the ready.
#19
Lexus Test Driver
Not sure if this is a good or bad thing. In the past, modern police vehicles were often associated with dated, poor-selling sedans that the public wasn't buying. Certainly the Explorer has to be better, despite it's poor reliability ratings.
#22
Lexus Test Driver
TOTALLY! With my last few nighttime highway trips, I've reminded myself to look for a distinct orange running light inside the main headlight. I think that's the pattern on the CHP's Explorers. Crown Vics were easy to spot over time.
#23
wow cops must be rich these days
let's see, police drive 40k+ loaded SUVs
low income folks get luxury low income housing to live in for free, EBT cards get used like credit cards
and oh yeah, taxes keep goin' up
where is this country headed...
let's see, police drive 40k+ loaded SUVs
low income folks get luxury low income housing to live in for free, EBT cards get used like credit cards
and oh yeah, taxes keep goin' up
where is this country headed...
#25
Formerly Bad Co
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CPD tried to replace the crown vic's with Tahoe's for some reason they bought the RWD versions. These have been nothing but miserable in the snow and ice, nothing like seeing a cop go at you sideways haha. Seems like they are replacing the remaining crown vic's with the explorers and these are equipped with AWD.
#26
Lead Lap
#27
#28
Lexus Test Driver
Gonna miss those easy to spot Crown Vics. I still see a lot of them for CHP in the Bay Area, but towns and cities I'm seeing the Taurus, Explorer, Caprice and Impala. Don't really see the Chargers ever. So with these newer cars gotta look for those extra light bars, bull bars, mirror spot lights, and CA EXEMPT plates. This past summer up in Oregon I found they had a bunch of unmarked Tahoes that blended in like other out of towners on vacation.
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#29
Heard the Chargers don't hold up, weak suspension design. Which makes sense, because its pretty common for ball joints and other parts to be trashed on civilian cars well before 100k.
#30
Lexus Test Driver
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Consumer vehicles are getting more powerful, while enforcement vehicles are becoming more...utilitarian. Seems like less and less incentive to stop every day. Plus you could just claim to be a lost tourist if the heat piled on