Overall, the police market totals about 60,000 cars a year, and cruisers sell from about $25,000-$30,000, before special equipment is added, which can cost an additional $10,000-$20,000.
Chevy Caprice Police Car (reported top speed 146)
The Australian Caprice looks like the 2009 Pontiac G8 and shares its rear-wheel-drive platform with the Camaro. While the new Caprice won’t be sold to the public, some will trickle down to taxi fleets and private customers, says Dana Hammer, GM’s product manager of law-enforcement vehicles. Transferable 5-year, 100,000-mile power train warranties would follow cars taken out of service early. “And that adds value,” he said.
So do some of the new gadgets: head-up displays; infrared vision; a blind-spot system to “see” nearby cars the driver cannot; and cross-traffic alert to warn of oncoming cars when the vehicle is backing up. New safety parameters call for surviving a 75 mph rear-end collision. The license-plate readers that instantly detect warrants and voice-command lights and sirens, however, won’t trickle down, but will transfer to other patrol cars.
Carbon E7 (reported top speed 150)
Built in Connorsville, Ind., for police use only the E7 was designed with the electronic police systems integrated, and the BMW diesel engine was chosen for its durability and a 160-mph speed of a 5-Series with that engine.
Dodge Charger Police Car (reported top speed 165)
Though it’s not purpose built, the Charger’s basic design has that functionality, said Jiyan Cadiz of Chrysler. It has the column shift, wide cabin and that 368-hp Hemi, which can run on 4 cylinders. And that adaptability goes both ways. “The big brakes on the R/T came directly from police needs,” he said.
Ford’s Police Interceptor Police Car (reported top speed 165)
Ford’s Police Interceptor is a radical departure from the 20-year workhorse it replaces. For one thing, it will offer all-wheel drive, and Lisa Teed, program manager for Ford’s Taurus-based Police Interceptor, expects most to be ordered that way. Front-wheel-drive will be available with a tamer 263-hp V-6.
One thing common to all manufacturers is the need for seats to accommodate officers who’ll be in them 8 1/2 hours a day. The seats in all four police specials are contoured to account for belts, guns, radios and handcuffs.
