Michigan State Police Patrol Cars Tested

Testing of 2013 model-year police cars by Michigan State Police occurred on Saturday, September 15; a crucial annual evaluation that guides fleet purchases for many law enforcement agencies around the country. The first portion of the annual Michigan State Police Evaluation Test happened at Chrysler's proving grounds in Chelsea, MI. The final leg of high-speed handling tests took place on Monday, September 17 at Grattan Raceway. Official results usually come out in November.

This year, the nineteen vehicles being evaluated, including seven motorcycles, were notable because the perennial favorite Ford Crown Victoria is no longer in production. Ford's fleet now consists of the Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan and the Explorer-based Interceptor utility vehicle, both made in Chicago. The new Interceptors did not go into production until March, but Ford brought prototypes to the 2011 tests for an idea of how they stacked up. This was the first time production models went through the paces.

The Interceptors competed with rear-drive offerings such as the Dodge Charger Pursuit made in Brampton, Ontario, and the Chevrolet Caprice PPV that returned to the police lineup last year after a 15-year hiatus. General Motors also has the front-drive Chevrolet Impala and the Tahoe SUV.

Ford is boosting the power of its Taurus Police Interceptor by adding a third V6 engine choice, while Dodge is making all-wheel drive available on the Charger Pursuit that has the Hemi V8 under the hood. The Ford Interceptor now comes with the same 3.7-liter V6 engine that is already in the Interceptor utility vehicle. This third V6 is in addition to the standard 3.5-liter V6, and the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine. The 3.7-liter offers the most power at 305 horsepower and 279 pound-feet of torque but still gets 25 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in city driving. All-wheel drive is standard on the car.

"This combination of great performance and top-notch fuel economy means law enforcement agencies won't have to compromise power or fuel efficiency while getting the job done," said Ford Interceptor Chief Engineer Bill Gubing.

Dodge has a faster car with its 5.7-liter V8 and the automaker says it still gets 25 mpg in highway driving. For the 2014 model year, Dodge is making all-wheel drive available with the 5.7-liter Hemi engine on the Charger Pursuit. The full-size car has an active transfer case and front-axle-disconnect system that automatically enables all-wheel drive when it senses conditions are slick.

"Adding available all-wheel drive capability to the already popular Dodge Charger Pursuit will broaden the Charger's appeal to police departments that are accustomed to dealing with rough winters and adverse weather conditions," said Peter Grady, Vice President in Charge of Fleets.

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