Ford strike back with police cars

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by vztrt

This is what I was hoping would happen. We would get a great Falcon with the tech people want. It would also make it a world wide car.

Maybe not, it could still be a local car but use a heck of a lot of common parts between it and the Mustang,
kind of like how the original Mustangs and Falcons were brothers but not on the same platform....
Like Falcon and Territory sharing around 40% of their parts but managing to be so different too each other.

[vztrt]

GM confirms more Holden cop car deliveries

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2578C60028C79D

Chev delivers Holdens to police in Georgia and Iowa – and US citizens in Maryland

11 July 2011

By MARTON PETTENDY

CHEVROLET has revealed first details of Holden’s US police car export program just days after it emerged that a number of unmarked Commodore-based detective vehicles were sold to private US citizens, but remains tight-lipped about exact sales numbers.

US website Jalopnik recently reported that a Maryland car dealer had sold a small number of Holden’s Australian-made Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) to local individuals after advertising a total of 13 modified Detective vehicles for sale on its website.

Last week General Motors told Automotive News it had closed a legal loophole that allowed dealers like Criswell Chevrolet to sell PPVs to non-governmental customers, and that it was not aware of any other Chevrolet dealers selling the Caprice-based sedan to the public.

The following day (July 5), Chevrolet announced that at least two North American police departments in Georgia and Iowa had taken delivery of the Adelaide-built PPV – the only V8-powered passenger car in the Chevrolet range aside from the Corvette sportscar and the Holden-engineered Camaro.

GM said the sheriff of Georgia’s Forsyth County, Ted Paxton, was so impressed with the 2011 Caprice PPV at a number of law enforcement demonstration events that he became one of the vehicle’s earliest adopters.

Sheriff Paxton took to the city of Cumming in his PPV in May and after the first month on patrol committed to replacing his county’s current fleet of about 175 vehicles with Caprice PPVs.

“With its emphasis on the ergonomically designed seats for officer comfort, and enhanced safety features, the Caprice is a vehicle that is made for police work,” said Mr Paxton.

“We’ve had our vehicles for a month and we’re sold. This will be a worthwhile investment.”

GM also cited Dennis Hogan, the fleet services manager in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as saying he would purchase the Caprice PPV, but did not reveal any numbers.

“We view the police vehicle as an extended office for our officers,” said Mr Hogan. “We chose the Caprice because it delivers optimal officer operational space, trunk and storage space, and generally provides our officers the most suitable operating environment.”

Last month Holden confirmed the first 23 examples of its modified long-wheelbase left-hand drive sedan were sold in the US in May, from an unspecified shipment of unmarked detective-spec vehicles that set sail from Adelaide in February.

A second shipment – this time comprising marked patrol cars – left Australia in late April and was scheduled to become available to police via US Chevrolet dealers by the end of June, following a pre-delivery fit-out process on arrival in California.

However, despite the fact the Caprice PPV represents the company’s first US exports since GM killed off its historic Pontiac brand – and Holden’s Commodore SS-based Pontiac G8 – in 2009, Holden will not reveal how many examples it has produced or shipped to date, because it is “just the supplier”.

“While we are unable to comment on numbers of vehicles and where they are headed (as we are just a supplier, Chevrolet is the owner of the program), they are currently in production at the plant and en route to the US,” said GM Holden’s South Australian corporate affairs manager Melanie Kerin.

A GM spokesperson told GoAuto that PPV sales were in line with expectations, but stressed that first examples of the volume-selling patrol version had only been shipped to US dealers in late June.

“Our orders are on target with our projected volume for the Caprice and we are pleased with customer response,” said Pam Flores from GM Communications Fleet and Commercial Operations.

“We don’t provide monthly projections for competitive reasons or discuss orders publicly.

“I can confirm that we have been delivering more of the lower-volume detective 9C3, and the higher-volume patrol 9C1 has started shipping to dealers at the end of last month.

“We are still in the initial launch phase of the Chevrolet Caprice PPV and anticipate that we will be able to provide more information about the many customers anxious to purchase the Caprice PPV, a rear-wheel drive police vehicle that delivers the performance, comfort and safety needed by today’s police departments.”

Ms Kerin described the strength of the Australian currency, which makes imports more profitable at the expense of exports, as “more challenging” for Holden’s Caprice export program.

“Regarding the impact of the foreign exchange rate on the program, it is more challenging with a higher Aussie dollar, but the program is one we take a long-term view of and are committed to,” she said.

The Chevrolet PPV program kicked off in July 2009 under then GM Holden chief Mark Reuss, with first prototypes built in March 2010.

Michigan state police tests in September 2010 marked the first in a series of demonstration events, including scrutiny by the LA County Sheriff’s Department in November 2010 and a national ‘Ride and Drive’ road show that took in 18 cities and 1500 drivers between November and January.

The Caprice PPV performed well against its major rivals (Ford’s Taurus and Dodge’s Charger) in most tests and, as of December last year, nine police departments including California, Michigan and Florida had requested tender contract documents for the Australian car.

The rear-drive Caprice PPV joins Chevrolet’s front-drive Impala and all-wheel drive Tahoe in GM’s law enforcement vehicle stable, which according to the bow-tie brand makes it the only maker to offer a full line of specialised police vehicles.

Holden began producing retail versions of the Detective PPV alongside the Commodore at Elizabeth in January, before which Mr Reuss had touted Holden’s prospects for the Caprice PPV following the demise of Ford’s aged Crown Victoria, which for decades had dominated a market that totals up to 80,000 US law enforcement vehicles.

While first shipments left Adelaide in February, the first PPV patrol cars entered production alongside the Commodore and localised Cruze small sedan in March, with shipments leaving in April and first US deliveries beginning in May and June.

Holden’s US-spec Caprice PPV – which is expected to be followed by a Commodore-based civilian model within a few years – is powered by a 265kW/521Nm E85 ethanol-compatible 6.0-litre V8.

A less powerful but more efficient 3.6-litre V6 version will follow, also fitted with sculpted front seats (designed to accommodate gun belts), an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat trimmed in high-wear material and protected by a seat-back security panel.

Other equipment comprises a full-width prisoner partition, front-only side and head curtain airbags, electronic stability control, 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on centre caps and wheel covers, a certified 180mph analogue speedometer and a ‘Driver Information Center’ with a “Trap Speed” feature to capture speed when tracking other vehicles.

Rear accommodation consists of a grey cloth-upholstered bench seat and rubber flooring, while optional extras include a vinyl rear seat and floor coverings, an auxiliary battery to power police equipment and a full-size spare tyre under a flat rear cargo floor.

The detective version’s gear lever is repositioned to the left in order to accommodate computer equipment, while the patrol car gets a column-mounted gear shifter.

[chevypower]

I wish GM would start operating like one company, and not lots of separate companies. I think Bob Lutz had the same opinion on that.

[IronFalcon]

Originally Posted by falconnut

Do NSW or Aussie Cops in general use Ford Falcons as HWP?

I swear ive seen a Green FG undercover.

VicPol is starting to get a few FG XR6Ts back into Highway Patrol roles. The issue with the Ba-Bf was the layout of the dash - the position of the bracket for mounting the MDT was either too high or too low - so no Fords were used. The dash in the FG is a different shape, so we're starting to see a few more getting about.

The other issue is that the Commodore ute makes a better divvy van for the time being, so the bulk of the police market belongs to holden.

[Franco Cozzo]

I'm a Gizmos man but damn, if I could buy a stripped out PPV spec Caprice for $35K I would, good potential performance car right there.

[jpd80]

The Ford Police Advisory Board was advised the MSRP difference between
Crown Vic PI and V6 AWD Interceptor sedan (non EcoBoost) is $800.
The belief is all concessions will carry over.

New Hampshire state contract pricing for the Crown Vic PI is $19,500. The Charger is $19,400
Both vendors have a ample supply in stock thus requiring the extention of the contract to Jan, 2012..

I don't see Holden bothering either Ford or Dodge's police vehicle contracts...

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/134567/u...rolet-caprice/

US Police stock up on Ford Crown Victoria, shun Chevrolet Caprice
By Tim Beissmann | August 25th, 2011

Police departments in the US are snubbing the Australian-made Chevrolet Caprice and other new law enforcement vehicles in favour of the prehistoric Ford Crown Victoria.

Between January and July 2011, sales of the Crown Victoria were up 64 per cent compared with the same period in 2010 as police forces stocked up on the ageing but widely respected cop car.

A total of 35,203 have been sold to law enforcement agencies so far this year, ensuring the Crown Vic will be among the most popular police vehicles for 2011. US law enforcement agencies generally purchase between 65,000 and 70,000 new vehicles each year.

The Crown Victoria was introduced as a police vehicle in 1983 and has been the top-selling model among departments for the past 15 years.

The Crown Vic and its sister car, the Lincoln Town Car, are built on Ford’s Panther platform – the basic elements of which can be traced back 32 years to 1979. Production of the Crown Victoria and Town Car will cease before the end of this year.

Ford is replacing it with the new Ford Taurus Police Interceptor and the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor, which promise to take a massive leap forward in terms of efficiency, power, handling, safety and durability.

But a number of police departments are sceptical of the new offerings, and as a result are loading up on the last Crown Victorias to roll off the line.

North Charleston, South Carolina police chief, John Zumalt, told the Detroit Free Press he did not understand why Ford would end production of the Crown Vic.

“The Crown Vic is the best vehicle for line police officers in the United States,” Mr Zumalt said.

“The Taurus isn’t going to work for us. It’s too small. We’re looking at the Caprice from Chevrolet and the Dodge Charger”

The North Charleston police department ordered 40 new Crown Victoria vehicles earlier this year.

In June, CarAdvice reported the first 23 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicles were delivered to police departments, marking a modest start to the export program.

Unfortunately, Holden will not comment on order volume or the number of vehicles currently on boats from Elizabeth to the US, although a Holden spokesperson said they expected the numbers to gradually increase over time.

[mik]

it does not look promising for the tauras as cop car, pity we could`nt send them some lhd falcons.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by mik

it does not look promising for the tauras as cop car, pity we could`nt send them some lhd falcons.

They would have failed as well.

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by IronFalcon

VicPol is starting to get a few FG XR6Ts back into Highway Patrol roles.

VicPol has been using FG XR6Ts since mid-2008 and there are a few 'coloured' ones now which are popular in country use. There are a few in Melbourne too.

The issue with the Ba-Bf was the layout of the dash - the position of the bracket for mounting the MDT was either too high or too low - so no Fords were used. The dash in the FG is a different shape, so we're starting to see a few more getting about.

Huh? There were plenty of BA/BA MkII/BF/BF MkII/BF MkII.5 XR6Ts in marked/unmarked form and a few XR8s in the BA series in TMU/HWP use.

[EgoFG]

Originally Posted by vztrt

They would have failed as well.

But Manufacturing and marketing the LWB Falcon in USA as both a Police car, and a Lincoln would make some sense.

But Hey, even the Standard falcon has more room than the Taurus, and also than the Caprice, in all ways that count except rear leg room.

[BFZ Wagon]

I just can't believe how stupid Ford North America are being with this. Fancy killing off a great RWD V8 platform just to introduce a crappy AWD one based on front wheel drive car. In all my research, I've realised that after the Crown Vic disappears, the Aussie RWD Falcon will be the ONLY RWD Ford SEDAN left on the planet. All Ford's other sedans and coupes will be FWD/AWD. The only RWD vehicles left (apart from the 2 DOOR mustang) will be their utes (yanks love to call em 'TRUCKS').

At least Chrysler and GM have kept a brain in their heads and have some sort of RWD sedan that the police can use.
I say good luck to the Caprice (even if it is a Holden), as it's an Aussie built car that's going to get used overseas (even if it is for a niche market)
GM even have a Cadillac model that's RWD. Ford don't have anything now. All the Lincolns etc will be FWD/AWD.

What a sad time for the history of Ford.

At least us Aussies still have a RWD sedan....

[STROPP]

Originally Posted by BFZ Wagon

At least us Aussies still have a RWD sedan....

for now, they are talking using the taurus platform in the future and doing away with the falcon rwd setup!

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by BFZ Wagon

I just can't believe how stupid Ford North America are being with this. Fancy killing off a great RWD V8 platform just to introduce a crappy AWD one based on front wheel drive car. In all my research, I've realised that after the Crown Vic disappears, the Aussie RWD Falcon will be the ONLY RWD Ford SEDAN left on the planet.

A two minute google search would do that...
The biggest mystery is why you still don't comprehend the reason Ford switched to FWD/AWD....
That move makes perfect sense to a manufacturer in search of maximum bang for bucks.
Taurus and Explorer are selling well, the Chicago is running two shifts and expects to go to three when
Saint Thomas closes next month, Ford reduces the expenses associated with competing products and
reduces production capacity. Picking up only half of their current police sales will see a nett advantage
over running two plants with different products. FWD/AWD vehicles makes more sense in snowy winter conditions,
being able to sell police versions of Explorer and Taurus with a lot of common parts gives Ford a big edge...

[Bobman]

The Crown Vic was a real tough looking police car (as was the Chevrolet Caprice), but the Impalas and Taurus' just look like weak examples.

Same as Astras in the UK. Looks ridiculous.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by STROPP

for now, they are talking using the taurus platform in the future and doing away with the falcon rwd setup!

Don't believe everything you read, especially when it's printed in Holden friendly car magazines.


Falcon is like Mark Twain's saying, "reports of my death are greatly exaggerated...."

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by BFZ Wagon

I just can't believe how stupid Ford North America are being with this. Fancy killing off a great RWD V8 platform just to introduce a crappy AWD one based on front wheel drive car. In all my research, I've realised that after the Crown Vic disappears, the Aussie RWD Falcon will be the ONLY RWD Ford SEDAN left on the planet. All Ford's other sedans and coupes will be FWD/AWD. The only RWD vehicles left (apart from the 2 DOOR mustang) will be their utes (yanks love to call em 'TRUCKS').

At least Chrysler and GM have kept a brain in their heads and have some sort of RWD sedan that the police can use.
I say good luck to the Caprice (even if it is a Holden), as it's an Aussie built car that's going to get used overseas (even if it is for a niche market)
GM even have a Cadillac model that's RWD. Ford don't have anything now. All the Lincolns etc will be FWD/AWD.

What a sad time for the history of Ford.

At least us Aussies still have a RWD sedan....

The reason they are ditching the Crown Vic is as of next year, the CV will no longer pass new crash tests, due to its ancient body on frame chassis. There is no way to make it pass the tests without starting from scratch, which they obviously find too expensive to do.

And its not a great chassis, its absolute garbage. Heavy, ponderous and poor crash safety. Its a relic from the 70's, and it handles just like it.

But the cops love it because its reliable, strong, simple and just about unbreakable. And having the same basic car for so long means all the equipment they use is interchangeable, so all the old police gear can be used over and over again. Ford have designed the Taurus to accept the old gear as well which was a good move.

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by BFZ Wagon

I just can't believe how stupid Ford North America are being with this. Fancy killing off a great RWD V8 platform just to introduce a crappy AWD one based on front wheel drive car.

The difference being that not many factories that produce fwd/awd vehicles have a paddock full of backstock they can't sell even for $34,990 driveaway with all the fruit. Everybody on this site loves rwd, but the monthly vehicle sales charts suggest we are the only ones.........

[mik]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

The difference being that not many factories that produce fwd/awd vehicles have a paddock full of backstock they can't sell even for $34,990 driveaway with all the fruit. Everybody on this site loves rwd, but the monthly vehicle sales charts suggest we are the only ones.........

i don`t think wheels driven is the issue Gobes, i think it`s the fuel cost((but i could be wrong ).

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

The reason they are ditching the Crown Vic is as of next year, the CV will no longer pass new crash tests, due to its ancient body on frame chassis. There is no way to make it pass the tests without starting from scratch, which they obviously find too expensive to do.

And its not a great chassis, its absolute garbage. Heavy, ponderous and poor crash safety. Its a relic from the 70's, and it handles just like it.

But the cops love it because its reliable, strong, simple and just about unbreakable. And having the same basic car for so long means all the equipment they use is interchangeable, so all the old police gear can be used over and over again. Ford have designed the Taurus to accept the old gear as well which was a good move.

The real reason is that the FWD AWD set up in the Taurus and Explorer offers Ford a 1-2 knockout punch
in getting bulk sales from police departments. Add to that, the reasons you said for discontinuing panther as well
as gaining scales of economy through adapting an existing set of vehicles and elimination of one complete
assembly plant, Ford is looking good for increasing profitability even with anticipated reduced sales.

It's all about bottom line....

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

The difference being that not many factories that produce fwd/awd vehicles have a paddock full of backstock they can't sell even for $34,990 driveaway with all the fruit. Everybody on this site loves rwd, but the monthly vehicle sales charts suggest we are the only ones.........

Ford US is lucky to have sufficient inventory to feed its market, 30-40 days supply is barely enough and allows
Ford to charge near full price for vehicles whilst being able to sell a lot more value added high series versions.

Falcon inventory is not as bad as you make out, a lot of it has been eroded
through 3-day production and building Territory at 1 to 1 rate with Falcon.

[Chilliman]

Forget the drivel from caradvice. The Crown Vic's are in run-out mode and Ford are targetting those police depts that are still unsure about the FWD/AWD Taurus. Those police depts (like North Charleston) will let the larger depts like the NYPD and the LAPD be the early adopters and iron-out any bugs with the Taurus Police interceptors.

In the mean-time, the run-out specials on Crown Vics keep the police in Fords and more importantly out of Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet Caprices.

[EgoFG]

I Think the biggy for the US Pol Depts oor the Taurus will be the fact that all the interior gear from the CV will bolt straight in - this is a huge cost saving.

[Sprint XR8]

203 Caprice cop cars sold in August.

http://blogs.motortrend.com/almost-m...ies-17711.html

[Bossxr8]

I thought Holden were selling the majority of the 70,000 police cars sold in the US per year. Tens of thousands of them they claimed.

Surely Drive wouldn't lie.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/f...rsuit-ratings/

Ford Police Interceptors earn official pursuit ratings
By Zach Bowman RSS feed
Sep 21st 2011 7:00PM

The Michigan State Police have officially graced the Ford Police Interceptor line with a Pursuit-Rated designation after a volley of tests. Both the Interceptor Sedan and Utility withstood the organization's battery of 0-60, braking and handling evaluations over a period of two days. And, the results?

According to Ford, both vehicles offer increased fuel economy and performance compared to the outgoing Crown Victoria Police Interceptor thanks to the use of the company's 3.5-liter turbocharged Ecoboost V6. With 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, the engine offers more grunt than the old 4.6-liter V8 with a smaller appetite for fuel.

The addition of a larger alternator and radiator means that the forced-induction six-pot can now handle the abuse that patrol duty can wreak on a vehicle. In addition, Ford says that its offerings are the only law-enforcement-specification options on the market right now specifically engineered to protect occupants from a 75 mph rear-end collision.

While both the Sedan and Utility have received the thumbs up from the Mitten State, the Los Angeles Police Department will also put the vehicles through the ringer in November. Hit the jump for the full press release.

PRESS RELEASE

New Ford Police Interceptors Validated as Pursuit-Rated in Tests Conducted by the Michigan State Police

The all-new Ford Police Interceptors deliver more performance, handling and fuel economy

The only all-wheel-drive vehicles specifically built for law enforcement, the Police Interceptors meet stringent law enforcement standards

Now police departments and other law enforcement agencies can get an all-new, American-made vehicle with the expected durability and price of the popular Crown Victoria

Ford Police Interceptor Utility expands ability for law enforcement to get the job done efficiently and effectively

Dearborn, Mich., Sept. 20, 2011 – The 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility today passed stringent Michigan State Police tests and have proven they are ready for law enforcement use. Of special note was the performance of the Police Interceptor Utility, which not only outperformed the Chevrolet Tahoe but held its own amongst the sedans.

The Ford Police Interceptor Utility excelled in 0-60 acceleration, braking, and handling over the two day testing.

"We are pleased that the performance of the Police Interceptor Utility was validated because it provides more choice for law enforcement agencies," said Lisa Teed, Ford's marketing manager for the Police Interceptors. "They can be assured that whether in slippery conditions like snow or in pursuit situations the purpose-built Utility will deliver."

Building on more than 15 years of leadership Ford has taken the key product attributes that made Crown Victoria Police Interceptor the leading law enforcement vehicle and increased the next-generation products' capabilities including offering the first and only pursuit-rated all-wheel-drive police vehicles. Now police departments and other law enforcement agencies can get an all-new, American-made vehicle with the same durability and price range of the popular Crown Victoria. The new Police Interceptors will be built at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant.

Working with Ford's Police Advisory Board, consisting of law enforcement professionals from the United States and Canada who provided feedback on attributes such as safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality. Ford has ensured that the new Police Interceptors are purpose-built to meet the requirements of this demanding industry.

"Our experience with the Crown Victoria helped us develop the next generation of Police Interceptor vehicles that serve as tools for public safety officials to do their jobs safely, efficiently and effectively," added Teed.

Officer protection is the first priority. The Ford Police Interceptors are the only vehicles certified to pass 75 mph rear collisions. Ballistic door panels to protect from gunshots are available on the driver or passenger doors. Safety cell construction helps direct the force of a collision around the occupant compartment. Crumple zones help absorb and dissipate the energy of a crash.

Power and efficiency

The V6 powertrain portfolio of engines on the Police Interceptors provides the fuel efficiency improvement to assist government agencies in reducing their operating costs. More importantly, the smaller-displacement engines provide increased performance and capability when compared to the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (CVPI) 4.6-liter V8. The highly efficient 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers at least 280 horsepower in the Sedan. An all-new EcoBoost® V6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine is also available producing 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

"This week's testing by the Michigan State Police proves our powerful and efficient V6 powertrains exceed CVPI V8 performance and deliver savings back to government agencies," said Bill Gubing, chief engineer of the Ford Police Program. "Government agencies have been seeking money saving solutions. Increased performance and improved fuel economy deliver on our commitment. In addition, engineering common components between the Sedan and Utility, and upfit-friendly solutions will aid the fleet's maintenance. Our goal was to streamline and reduce complexity for the customer, whose resources are constrained in these economic times."

Managing increased power, requires more stopping power. New 18-inch five-spoke steel wheels and tires are designed to work in concert with the new brake system for improved capability. Additional unique components include a larger heavy-duty alternator and larger radiator. A honeycomb grille provides increased airflow throughout the vehicle to improve cooling and enhance operation.

Rigorous testing was conducted to ensure the new Police Interceptors could handle the demands of around-the-clock law enforcement duty. In addition to the certification testing designed by the Michigan State Police, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will conduct its vehicle tests in November to further evaluate the durability and capability of police vehicles under the most extreme conditions.

The pursuit-rated Ford Police Interceptors come standard with all-wheel-drive. The Sedan is available with a 3.5-liter Ti-VCT flex-fuel V6 or 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V6 engine. The Utility has 3.7-liter Ti-VCT flex-fuel V6 engine producing 300 hp. Front-wheel-drive configuration is optional.

News Source: Ford

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/22/c...ate-police-te/

Chevy boasts about Caprice PPV performance in Michigan State Police test
By Zach Bowman RSS feed
Sep 22nd 2011 5:32PM

General Motors has a reason to preen over the results of the Michigan State Police vehicle evaluations. The Chevrolet Caprice PPV managed to eclipse its competition in top speed and braking tests. The Caprice PPV managed to scoot down from 60 miles per hour in just 125.8 feet, which is a full four feet shorter than the equivalent Ford Interceptor Sedan. Likewise, with a top speed of 154 mph, the protect-and-serve Bowtie boasts a top speed that's 6 mph faster than the 148-mph Interceptor. While that's impressive, we're more terrified by the fact that the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV managed to ratchet up an astonishing 139 mph. That's what we call a flying brick.

The Chevrolet PPV Sedan gets its power from the company's 3.6-liter V6 engine and lays it to the pavement by the miracle of good, old-fashioned rear-wheel drive. While Ford claims that the company's forced-induction V6 garners better fuel economy with equivalent performance, it will be hard for most law enforcement agencies to brush past the PPV's taller top end and shorter stopping distance. Hit the jump for the press release.

PRESS RELEASE
Chevrolet Trio Lead at Michigan State Police Tests


Caprice PPV posts best-in-class top speed and best-in-class braking for second consecutive year
Impala PPV posts best-in-class top speed among all V-6 entrants at 150 mph
Tahoe PPV has segment-leading top speed and reduces stopping distance seven feet

GRATTAN, Mich. – Chevrolet has three good reasons for scofflaws to behave on the roads. Led by the 2012 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV), the brand's 2012 police lineup beat the competition at the recent Michigan State Police testing in Chelsea and Grattan, Mich.

"The results speak for themselves and prove why they're the best choice for law enforcement duty today," said Dana Hammer, manager, Law Enforcement Vehicles.

The Caprice PPV 6.0L V8 was best-in-class in the 60-0 mph braking test for the second straight year, with a 125.8 ft. stopping distance. That was four feet less than the Ford Police Interceptor Taurus AWD turbo.

"When we set out to develop the Caprice PPV, we received critical input from police officers around the nation and they told us they wanted a serious rear-drive performance cruiser," said James Soo, lead development engineer of the Caprice PPV. "The Caprice has been designed solely for the police officer who depends on performance and technology to get the job done."

Caprice also posted a best-in-class top speed for the second consecutive year increasing 6 mph to 154 mph compared to 148 mph for the Ford Police Interceptor Taurus AWD turbo.

"In terms of braking, an average deceleration rate of 30.77 feet per second is unprecedented for police cruisers, so we're quite pleased," Soo said.

The Caprice LFX 3.6L V-6 outperformed the naturally aspirated Dodge Charger V-6 and Ford Police Interceptor Taurus Sedan V-6 in 60-0 mph braking, top speed and acceleration.

The Impala, with its new LFX 3.6L V-6 engine, posted a best-in-class top speed of 150 mph – faster than any V-6 entrant. The Impala has an increase of more than 70 horsepower compared to last year. It topped all naturally aspirated V-6 entrants in acceleration and top speed.

At 150 mph, the naturally aspirated Impala posted a higher top speed than the Ford Police Interceptor Taurus AWD twin-turbo V-6.

"We increased the 2012 Impala's power significantly, so it was a wolf in sheep's clothing and surprised quite a few agencies," Hammer said. "We did this while not sacrificing the safety performance or fuel efficiency of the vehicle."

The Impala PPV improved in the MSP 60 to 0 braking test by seven feet compared to 2010, and delivers 28 mpg highway, a 4 mpg improvement over the 2011 model.

The Tahoe PPV, the first and only traditional SUV designed for police use, achieved segment-leading top speed at 139 mph and reduced its stopping distance by seven feet compared to its 2011 model.

"With the Tahoe PPV, police officers get their cake and can eat it too," Hammer said. "It not only delivers top performance efficiently, but does so with best-in-class cargo capacity."

News Source: General Motors

[jpd80]

Heh, heh, we'll soon see.......September's sales figures for the PPV should be out in just over a weeek's time.
They will be lucky to be over 500, the competition is that fierce and everything comes down to price...

The only thing Holden can count on is small "Mayberry" Sheriffs indulging themselves....

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Heh, heh, we'll soon see.......September's sales figures for the PPV should be out in just over a weeek's time.
They will be lucky to be over 500, the competition is that fierce and everything comes down to price...

The only thing Holden can count on is small "Mayberry" Sheriffs indulging themselves....

With the Crown now finally out of production I wonder if that will let them gain a few more orders?

[EgoFG]

Interesting that that blurb puts the impala ahead of ALL v6s.

There must some small print that says "forced induction v6 is excluded from these figures".