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Read the rest of this articleIs the 2012 Ford Interceptor the next green cop car?
Ford, well aware of the importance of maintaining or even expanding its government fleet car market share, is trying to up the ante on its new police interceptor by not only offering greater durability and brawn, but a more eco-friendly engine.
Sure, it is no hybrid or even fully electric car, and it may not completely revolutionize police patrolling, but the 2012 Ford Police Interceptor gives police officers the hefty punch they require without compromising safety or fuel economy.
So what is so special about the 2012 Ford Interceptor in comparison to its Crown Victoria predecessor?
Its tougher. The new Ford Interceptor offers the durability officers demand in the body and shocks of the vehicle. With the ability to withstand a 75 MPH rear end collision or a curb at speeds of more than 40 MPH, this heavily reinforced, heavily tested vehicle can just about hold up to anything (it even has rollover airbags).
Its more powerful. The new Ford Interceptor will have two powertrain options: a 365 horsepower twin-turbo engine with 350 pound-feet of torque or a 263 horsepower engine with 250 pound-feet of torque. The V6 options are more powerful than the current V8 engine of the Crown Victoria.
Its smarter. Advancements in Ford technology have also improved the brakes, radiator, alternator, and most importantly, the fuel economy of the 2012 Interceptor. According to reports, the V6 Interceptor with its 3.5 Liter flex-fuel engine will offer 25% better fuel efficiency than the current V8 Crown Victoria. Additionally, it will be fully loaded with LED lights, embracing the eco-friendly move to energy efficient lighting.
The 25% improvement in fuel efficiency is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to carbon emissions and improved environmental awareness. The question, however, should be asked of what it would take to completely revolutionize patrol cars with an all electric vehicle that possesses similar technical specs?
One of the few electric cars with comparable engine specs currently in production today is the $100,000 Tesla Roadster. The 2010 Roadster has an output of 288 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, putting it right in between the two engines of the 2012 Ford Interceptor.
In many ways, the comparison is not fair considering that consumers are not only paying for the engine of the Roadster, but also the luxury sports car. Both, however, offer souped-up versions where extras are inevitable. Other all electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt offer engines with horsepower between 120 and 160 at prices most likely in the $30,000-$40,000 range.
Essentially, police cars would be bought at a very unrealistic price in order to avoid compromising the specs currently offered on the Crown Victoria and now the 2012 Ford Interceptor. It is at least promising to know an electric car, like the Tesla, has an electric engine that is comparable in size to the current police vehicles (too bad they are priced at a premium).
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Hi,
The 365 horsepower engine is not a V8. It is the same 3.5L V6, but uses twin turbos. It is the engine found in the Taurus SHO, but in your article you keep referring to V6 and V8 engines that are more efficient than the current Crown Victoria V8. There is no V8 for the Taurus.
Somebody needs to go back and do more research, there is NO V8 for the Towus excuse me I mean Taurus, There is a V6 and a V6 twin turbo eco-boost engine.
Thank you Aaron for helping Tainted Green serve the public with accurate information. The article has been updated to reflect the accurate engine sizes. Your support is appreciated. Thanks.
easily led, ill informed, lazy liberal morons
I'm a liberal, but I do not like the fact that this Taurus does not RWD or even a V-8 option
I too like the RWD and V8, however, my new MKS is faster, drives and handles much better than my old Towncar and Gran Marquis, but don't ride as good. Everybody now wants to feel the road and the stability.
Ok I got it right with the Taurus prediction. Now I can quite safely go for 2 out of 2 with an Explorer based utility.
There will be no Flex based cop vehicle. The Explorer and Flex will share some bits but the Flex is made in Canada. A large part of Ford's strategy with all of this is being able to tout that their Police Vehicles are all MADE IN THE USA. Ironic since the Crown Victoria's were made in Canada. However with the new Taurus and Explorer based Police vehicles they will be able to make that claim since they will all be built in the the US in Chicago. The Charger is built in Brampton Ontario Canada and GM will be importing their Interceptor from the Aussies so Ford will easily be able to play the "Made In The USA" card. A real ace in the whole with all the "Buy American" clauses being passed around in government. Ford lobbyists will be busy in the halls of congress making sure this is applied to police fleets.
The new Explorer is the replacement product for the Taurus X/Freestyle. It is meant to be more of an off roader than the Flex even though they are cousins. It should have a large enough degree of mean to it's looks to help it fit the police roll. I expect it will offer slightly less cargo room but higher ground clearance and a lot more off roading ruggedness than a Flex. The Flex was meant to be the Family Hauler but by deleting the sliding doors they have blurred it's identity. Despite it's AWD the Flex is just a softroader.
The new Explorer will try to use mean looks to cover it's transition to a kindler, gentler and more efficient platform but I am sure Ford has altered things enough underneath to offer enough added strength to ensure this will not just be a Freestyle with a new grill. The Explorer program is probably where Ford found the parts and bits to stiffen up the Taurus enough to make a police interceptor out of it. Which of course bodes well for the capabilities of the first unibody Explorer. The next trick out of Ford's hat will be a Explorer with respectable off road abilities and towing capabilities on a unibody platform.
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Josh Edwards
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It seems a pretty tough car, even though it has an eco friendly engine. Well, i suppose this is what policemen really need, after all they are put at risk each time they are on the road racing for bad guys, so their car need to withstand all kind of road accidents.
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Could be, it is important to understand that we've to keep up a perfect balance between the price tag and also making it sure that the car is environmental-friendly. Going all-electric may cost it a lot more to them so we've to keep that in mind as well. But this car certainly seems a big improvement from Crown Victoria, it is looking good in shape and with all the security features it has got, it's impressive. That would make our cops jobs a bit easier and would provide them with extra security. - Veronica miami real estate
That car is NICE! I honestly wouldn't mind getting pulled over by one of those just to get a closer look, haha. I think local police force's decision to use hybrids makes tons of sense. The more people see them on the road the more they will get used to the idea and hopefully follow suit. Well done Ford, keep leading America toward a greener future!
Sammy D.
IP PBX
Ford seems to be doing very well on the car market, but it needed government bailout... How come? Maybe Ford should thank the government for the help with donate a car to charity event... That would surely compensate their growing business and profit...
I personally prefer mercedes its stronger and faster , But ford also good.
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Carid.com believe that the Ford Inceptor will complete the mission as aimed by providing 25 percent more efficiency. The future of the fuel injected vehicle remains topical and not in favor. One expects that alternative fuel will be Fords objective for our next release of police vehicles.
Jerry
Carid
Ford Company did a very good job until now and apparently it won't stop here. That is a very considerable project and I hope they manage to get it to an end. I'm glad to see that they are not only interested in how to create good car but they also give importance to other aspects like law and environment. Ford cars have always been good! Mine is very old though. I am trying to sell it before its insurance expires or else I will have to search for car insurance Ireland again.
The green cars are the cars of the future. To be honest I am more interested in those used class B motorhomes than the green cars. That is because I know that we won't be able to use them very soon. It is all about money, about producing those cars and so on. Everybody talks about it but I'm afraid the 'green world' we all dream of has to wait.