Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

wickedstangs · Mar 19, 2010

Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/dodge/" rel="tag">Dodge</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/police-emergency/" rel="tag">Police/Emergency</a><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/police-badge-250.jpg" />It used to be that every full-line American automaker offered a version of its mainstream full-size sedan to make it appropriate for police duty. By the time 1996 rolled around, the <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/chevrolet">Chevrolet</a> Caprice, which was the last would-be competitor to the standard-setting <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford</a> Crown Victoria, was discontinued, leaving the lucrative police market to the Blue Oval Boys. 
 
The automotive industry took notice, and plans began in corporate board rooms to remedy that situation, and even a few new entrants - most notably <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/06/carbon-e7-police-car-headed-for-duty-in-2012/">Carbon Motors</a> - sprung up with promising designs that eschewed the mainstream production-based sedan design. 
 
In 2005, <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/dodge">Dodge</a> rolled out a factory police package for its full-size <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/charger">Charger</a> sedan, and for the first time in a decade the Crown Victoria faced some stiff V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive competition. Then in 2009, <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/chevrolet">Chevrolet </a>announced that its new Zeta platform Caprice would be <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/the-cops-get-a-zeta-sedan-gm-unveils-355-hp-chevy-caprice-polic/">returning for the 2011 model</a> year packing a strong 6.0-liter V8 of its own. 
 
How would Ford answer this newly mounted competition? Would the aging Panther-based Crown Vic finally get an update? Nope. Instead, Ford just recently announced that it would soon <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/police-interceptor-ford-unveiled/">offer a highly ruggedized version</a> of its most recent Taurus sedan, optionally equipped with the stout 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine powering all four wheels as seen in the revived <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/taurus+sho">Taurus SHO</a>. 
 
We decided to see for ourselves how the three new competitors stacked up against the old guard Crown Vic on paper, and as you can see, there's little to separate each offering on the spec sheets. It should prove interesting to see how police agencies react to these choices, especially since reliability and durability will be mostly unknown factors for the first time in ages. See for yourself. 
 
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" bordercolor="#ffffcc" border="1" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 630px; height: 1051px;">

<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left"> </td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/ford-crown-victoria-police-interceptor-f-3-4-630_120x120.jpg" alt="" /></td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/police-interceptor-ford-unveiled/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/policeinterceptcon01opt_120x120.jpg" /></a></td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/dodge-charger-cop-car-gets-boost-in-power-and-fuel-economy/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/chargerpolice_opt_120x120.jpg" /></a></td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/the-cops-get-a-zeta-sedan-gm-unveils-355-hp-chevy-caprice-polic/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/01-caprice-police-press-620op_120x120.jpg" /></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left"> </td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Ford Crown Vic</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Ford Taurus</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Dodge Charger</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Chevrolet Caprice</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Availability</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Forever</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Late 2011</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">2005 - Present</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">2011</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Type</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-door, body on frame</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-door, enhanced unibody</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-door, unibody</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-door, unibody</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Engine</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">4.6L V8</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Turbocharged 3.5L V6</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">5.7L Hemi V8</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">6.0L V8</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Power</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">250 horsepower</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">365 horsepower</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">368 horsepower</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">355 horsepower</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Torque</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">297 lb-ft</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">350 lb-ft</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">395 lb-ft</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">385 lb-ft</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Fuel Economy</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">14 City / 21 Highway</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">17 City / 25 Highway (2010 Ford Taurus SHO AWD) 
</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">16 City / 25 Highway</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">15 City / 24 Highway (2009 Pontiac G8 GT) 
</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Driveline</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Rear-Wheel</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Front or All-Wheel</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Rear-Wheel</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Rear-Wheel</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Shifter</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Column</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Column</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Column</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Console</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Wheels</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">17-inch steel</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">18-inch steel</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">18-inch steel</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">18-inch steel</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Brakes</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-Wheel Discs</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-Wheel Discs</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-Wheel Discs</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Four-Wheel Discs</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Cop Brakes</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Cop Suspension</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Cop Cooling</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" style="text-align: center;">Y</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Seats</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Front - Cloth 
Rear - Vinyl Bench</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Front - Cloth 
Rear - Vinyl Bench</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Front - Cloth 
Rear - Cloth Bench</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Front - Cloth 
Rear - Vinyl Bench</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Interior Volume</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">106.4 Cubic Feet</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">102.3 Cubic Feet</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">104 Cubic Feet</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">112 Cubic Feet</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">Trunk Space</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">20.6 Cubic Feet</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">20.1 Cubic Feet</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">16.2 Cubic Feet</td>
<td width="126" valign="middle" align="left">18 Cubic Feet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="126" valign="top" align="left">Special Features 
</td>
<td width="126" valign="top" align="left">Overwhelming Ubiquity 
 
Tough as nails 
 
Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact</td>
<td width="126" valign="top" align="left">Seats with downsized lateral bosters, cut-outs for utility belts 
 
Ford SYNC 
 
Safety Canopy(R) side-curtain air bag 
 
Rollover protection system 
 
Customizable steering-wheel switches 
 
Rear doors swing 71-degrees 
 
Capable of withstanding 75-mph rear impact 
 
BLIS(R) (Blind Spot Information System) 
 
Cross Traffic Alert 
 
Rear View Camera System 
 
Reverse Sensing System</td>
<td width="126" valign="top" align="left">160-mph (certified) calibrated speedometer 
 
AM/FM radio with CD player, changer controls, four speakers and clock with auxiliary audio input jack 
 
Load-leveling, height-control shock absorbers 
 
Independently switched red/white LED dome lamp</td>
<td width="126" valign="top" align="left">Seats with downsized lateral boosters, cutouts for utility belts 
 
In-dash touch-screen computer technology 
 
Driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/">Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19407079/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/19/charting-the-five-ohs-next-gen-cop-car-comparo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Renegade · Mar 19, 2010

"its got cop brakes, cop suspension...." damn reminds me of the Blues Brothers

Charting the Five-Ohs: Next-gen Cop Car Comparo

wickedstangs

Chula Vista, CA

Renegade

Well-Known Member