ShareThisFOLLOWING NEWS THAT it has been developing a replacement for the iconic Crown Victoria police cruiser, Ford in the US has today revealed the new 2012 Ford Police Interceptor.
Early reports had suggested that Ford, like GM with the Holden Statesman, had earmarked the proven Australian Ford Falcon as a strong contender for the job. However, speaking with TMR late last year, Ford Australia's Justin Lacy confirmed that the Falcon was off the table.
"The new Police Interceptor is to be engineered and built in the US, which indicates it is a US-only program. Ford Australia is not involved with the announcement of the new Police Interceptor," Mr Lacy said.
With Ford still to make a decision on the Falcon's place in CEO Alan Mulally's One Ford plan, the Taurus could find its way to Australia as its replacement. If that happens, the Police Interceptor could well find a place in the fleets of Australia's police forces.
Based on the current-generation US-market Ford Taurus, the Police Interceptor is powered by a 196kW 3.5 litre V6 engine, with a more powerful 272kW/475Nm EcoBoost V6-powered model available for high-speed pursuits. Specific performance figures have not been revealed.
Both models are equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, with a column-mounted shifter to free up space in the centre console.
Inside, the Police Interceptor is fitted with the requisite law enforcement equipment, while the body has been reinforced to take a 120km/h rear-end collision and keep going.
A special heavy-duty curtain airbag protects occupants in the event of a side impact or a rollover.
Ford's Police Interceptor will go up against GM's Australian-developed Chevrolet Caprice PPV and the Dodge Charger as the US' various law enforcement agencies consider which vehicles will best suit their needs once the Crown Victoria is retired.
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Comments
5 months ago 0 points
5 months ago -1 points
Apparently one of the main reasons for this is so that the Mustang can adopt IRS [similar to the Falcon] which is the Mustangs Achilles heel in comparisons between the Camaro and Challenger..
Why would Ford turn the Falcon into a Smaller FWD car when they already have the Mondeo to fill that category?
If Ford were to turn the Falcon into a Smaller FWD car they would simply be handing sales over to Holden as they have no immediate plans to make such changes to the Commodore
There will always be a market for large family sized RWD sedans; I mean the Falcon will be getting the new Coyote V8 - do you think a FWD car could handle 300-400Kw?
5 months ago 1 points
Taurus:
Length, Overall (in) 202.9 = 5153mm
Width, (in) 85.7 = 2176mm
Height, Overall (in) 60.7 = 1541mm
Wheelbase (in) 112.9 = 2868mm
Falcon:
Length: 4955mm
Width: 1868mm
Height: 1453mm
Wheelbase: 2838mm
Mustang:
Length 4765 mm.
Width 1877 mm.
Height 1407 mm.
Wheelbase 2720 mm.
4 months ago 0 points