Ford SUV Interceptor-

[Gerry Mac]

Ford unveils first-ever Police Interceptor SUV for North America

By Ben Coxworth



15:34 September 1, 2010



Ford Motor Company has revealed its new Police Interceptor utility. The SUV, along with the new Taurus-based Interceptor sedan that Ford unveiled earlier this year, will replace the Crown Victoria Interceptor sedan when it ceases production in late 2011. The utility reportedly gets at least 20 percent better fuel economy than the Crown Vic, and sports a variety of other features that Ford hopes will make it the vehicle of choice for car-shopping police forces.

The SUV has a 3.5 liter V6 engine (the Vic has a 4.6 liter V8) which delivers at least 280 hp. It has a six-speed automatic transmission that combines lowered initial gears for peppier acceleration, with higher gearing for improved efficiency when cruising at lower rpms. As compared to Fords civilian SUVs, the utility has larger, higher-performing brakes, a beefier alternator, and a larger radiator. Its AWD drivetrain also features a water-cooled power transfer unit.



Like the new sedan, its interior features front seats designed to accommodate utility belts, and a column-mounted shifter that frees up space in the console area. The back seats are upholstered in easy-to-wipe-down vinyl, and fold flat to provide extra cargo room. The rear cargo space is designed to carry loads of up to 800 pounds (363 kg.).



Some of the vehicles other features include side-curtain air bags, curve control technology to lessen the chances of highway flip-overs, the AdvanceTrak system for minimizing wheel slip, and the Blind Spot Information System that uses radar to detect vehicles in the drivers blind spot, and alerts the driver to oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking spot. All of these features, incidentally, are available on Fords regular vehicles.



The utility also has re-mappable steering wheel controls, which allow officers to create custom controls such as voice-activated lights and sirens. Sounds like fun.



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[Art Garcia]

gotta love the new FORD EXPLORER SUVS

 

[Kevin Lang]

Some of the vehicles other features include ..., curve control technology to lessen the chances of highway flip-overs, the AdvanceTrak system for minimizing wheel slip, and the Blind Spot Information System that uses radar to detect vehicles in the drivers blind spot, and alerts the driver to oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking spot. All of these features, incidentally, are available on Fords regular vehicles.

Aren't all these doodads going to interfere with pursuit driving?



I'm kind of miffed that the cops get special vehicle handling lessons, only to now need a computer to back up.



...though remembering the whole "The Fuzz can't drive" post on here a while back, where the cop smashed his CV into a tree @ high speed while driving in assistance to a foot pursuit, maybe they DO need these things??



:back2topic:

Considering the stylings of these rides, when is RoboCop going to be made?

 

[Mark K 2]

The effectiveness of alternating flashing headlights are going to really suck on this truck.

 

[EddieS'04]

Notice in the pic, the number is 002. They already smash 001 demo...:bwahaha:

 

[Kevin Lang]

The payload capacity of this seems rather low too.



The ST's bed is all fiberglass, yet is rated for 1200 lbs.



Why can this only carry 800 lbs? I blame monocoque construction.

As compared to Fords civilian SUVs, the utility has larger, higher-performing brakes, a beefier alternator, and a larger radiator. Its AWD drivetrain also features a water-cooled power transfer unit.

Considering how the car doesn't seem to be set up for aggressive, high-performance pursuit and the like, but rather for controlled, "civilian" driving, shouldn't the drivetrain of the "civilian" version get water cooled drivetrains?



Also, shouldn't all of Ford's vehicles be designed for maximum stopping efficiency? Seems that'd be safer. Why is it more important for the police to stop than for the average soccer mom who is driving on her cell & slams on the brakes @ the last minute?



Finally, police ARE civilians!!

 

[Shaun Tucker]

I think I'd be more terrified of LEO vehicles if they had cooler looking rims :rofl:

 

[Gerry Mac]

There are two demo vehicles.

Frankly, I like the look of it. I will ask for a demo here.



More pictures of both vehicles.



Mac







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[Gavin Allan]

Looks like it could easily be outrun.

 

[Gerry Mac]

Looks like it could easily be outrun

Radio waves travel at the speed of light, 300,000 km/s. You drive something that will outrun that? I am impressed.



Mac

 

[ray moyer]

pfft i love watching people that think they can out run the cops on tv, they always fail lol



and the SHO i dont think will be too easy to out run, and that explorer i dont think id take my chances...



now when i get my badge, ill let you know how many people i let get away cuz itll be a nice round number esp if i get a nice fast car like those 5.0s in louisville!

 

[Kevin Lang]

now when i get my badge, ill let you know how many people i let get away

Sadly, I don't believe cool cop chases happen. More of a "the cop keeps you in sight & calls in his buddies to block the road up ahead", as was already mentioned.



Really takes the fun out of the whole thing, same with the whole "I crossed the county/state line, so I'm safe" myth.



I suppose the only real way to outrun the cops, legitimately, is to use the interconnected more rural backroads that most people in an area don't know, and more importantly, the cops don't regularly cruise, which reduces their ability to form effective roadblocks, giving you a chance.



And hey, twisty, obfuscated interconnected back roads could give you an advantage since the cops who are driving these new cars aren't expected to be able to BACK UP without assistance. :grin:



So, is cops rolling their SUVs on the highway a common occurrence, as the article seems to imply?



Of course, the #1 way to get away from the law is to drive to the handy instant paint shop & pay 600 bucks...cause if your ride is a different color, the cops will never suspect.



(Whaddya mean GTA isn't real??! When did this happen!)

 

[ray moyer]

lol haha i dunno about the whole no cop chases im buddies with a few here in town who have been in good chases, one officer i know told me hes had to take the car to 140 with room to before they got dude off the road with spikes

 

[Steve McKellop]

Notice in the pic, the number is 002. They already smash 001 demo.

Eddie, the 001 is the taurus demo unit.

Radio waves travel at the speed of light, 300,000 km/s. You drive something that will outrun that? I am impressed.

As they say, you can outrun a (insert vehicle of your choice) but you can't outrun a Motorola!! Amazing how many idiots try..........

 

[EddieS'04]

Steve said,

As they say, you can outrun a (insert vehicle of your choice) but you can't outrun a Motorola!! Amazing how many idiots try..........

Your right. If you watch the close ups of the news. When they catch the running perp. If the perp opens his mouth to the media. They always sound like an idiot. Cant make any sense from the perps statement...LOL

 

[Shaun Tucker]

They should never have killed off the Crown Vic line. It would have kept about 1,200 people employed in this Area.



St. Thomas is going to be a complete **** hole after Ford packs up that plant.



I can understand their reasoning, and I'm not arguing with it. It just seems like the Crown Vic will be hard to replace considering a lot of Police Departments from all over North America (including here in London ON) are ordering large amounts of Crown Vic cruisers to stock up for a few years to come.



It doesn't sound like the Taurus OR Explorer will be picked up any time soon by these paricular departments.

Faint hope for Ford plant

If demand continues, the planned St. Thomas closing could be delayed

By Norman De Bono The London Free Press

Last Updated: August 30, 2010 7:41am



The door has opened a crack on a stay of execution for workers at Ford of Canadas St. Thomas assembly plant.



While workers have received a layoff notice effective Aug. 31, 2011 when the plant on Hwy. 4 south of Hwy. 401 is poised to close included in the letter was a statement from Ford saying that if demand continues for the plants vehicles, the deadline could be extended....



The plant is still on pace to assemble about 100,000 vehicles this year, but one of them, the Grand Marquis, ends production this fall when Ford phases out its Mercury line. But it also makes the Lincoln Town Car and Crown Victoria, liked by police forces and taxi fleets across North America.



Some police departments and cab companies are stockpiling cars now. If that continues to year-end, workers may remain on the job a few more weeks.



But if demand fades, Aug. 31 will be lights out.

I have not heard yet whether or not the plant was closed this week.

 

[Gerry Mac]

I have been involved in fat too many high speed chases and can honestly tell you I never enjoyed any of them. If you catch the suspect it usally is due to a crash or spike belt. High speed chases have come way down in Canadian cities that use a helicopter. Winnipeg will have one this fall.



Out run this..............................



Mac



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[Mark K 2]

Out run this..............................

Argghhh. Look at those old, clunky Tomar strobe light bars! Those suckers cut down top end speed by 15 mph.

 

[Kevin Lang]

High speed chases have come way down in Canadian cities that use a helicopter.

Number of chases has gone down by 100%.



From 0 to 0.



There is no crime in Canada.



(Don't ruin the dream)

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Out run this..............................

Well, if they're all posing for the picture, I'll have a nice head start.

The chopper is kind of a misnomer, because I don't really have to outrun it, just the cars/bikes & avoid the spikes, as honestly, how is the chopper going to stop me? I don't remember any car chases ending with a helicopter sniper, and 2 Fast 2 Furious was (thankfully) fiction.

Those suckers cut down top end speed by 15 mph.

...that is sarcasm, right?

 

[The Mazz]

I've had my ST Interceptor for years now[Broken External Image]:[Broken External Image]: