Specially engineered Taurus-based sedan will replace Crown Victoria as it goes out of production.

Ford Police Interceptor will come in front- or all-wheel drive with a choice of two V6 engines. (Photo: Ford)
Ford rolled out its next-generation Police Interceptor for law-enforcement that will replace the ubiquitous Crown Victoria police car when its goes out of production late next year.

The new police model is a front- or all-wheel-drive purpose-built sedan based on the Ford Taurus, which Ford said “will exceed the durability, safety, performance and fuel economy of the industry’s leading police car – the Ford Crown Victoria.”

The Crown Vic has been the market leader for police vehicles for the past 15 years. But the old-style body-on-frame, rear-drive sedan is little changed during that time and is becoming outdated.

“Police nationwide asked for a new kind of weapon in the battle for public safety, and Ford is answering the call with a purpose-built vehicle – engineered and built in America – that’s as dynamic as it is durable,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas.

Nearly 90 percent of the interior has been designed specifically to meet the needs of law enforcement, including a column shifter, customized seats to accommodate officers' utility belts and a media center for electronic accessories. (Photo: Ford) Ford engineers worked closely with the automaker’s Police Advisory Board, comprised of law-enforcement professionals who provided input regarding safety, performance, durability, driver comfort and functionality, the company said.

Safety and durability were the primary qualities sought by the law-enforcement advisors, said Scott Tobin, Ford vehicle line director for cars and crossovers, and the new Police Interceptor has been engineered for the highest level of crash-worthiness and occupant protection.

The Ford Police Interceptor will be available with two V6-engine options that Ford says perform as well as or better than most available V8s while providing superior fuel mileage.

A naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 delivers 263 horsepower with 25 percent better fuel efficiency than the 4.6-liter V8 that powers current Crown Vic police cars.

A new 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 with twin turbochargers and direct injection provides 365 horsepower and 350 ft.-lb. of torque across a broad rpm range, according to Ford. A high-capacity six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission and torque-sensing all-wheel-drive will enhance the capabilities of the Ecoboost engine.

“We have an extremely powerful standard engine, and to top that off, we also offer our exclusive EcoBoost technology,” said Tobin. “Both are designed for the severe-duty cycle that police engage in on a daily basis.”

For the increased durability and performance required for police work, the Police Interceptor comes with bigger, more-powerful brakes with 18-inch steel wheels that are vented for brake cooling; a heavy-duty alternator; and a purpose-built cooling package that features a larger radiator and a honeycomb grille to increase air flow throughout the vehicle.

Ford’s new Police Interceptor sedan will be manufactured at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant and will be offered when production of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor ends in late 2011.

Competing with the new Ford Police Interceptor are law-enforcement sedans offered by the other domestic brands, with General Motors providing a special version of Impala and Chrysler selling a Dodge Charger police car.