[All-Or-Nothing]

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Photo credit: Motor Trend

"It's not a Taurus," Lisa Teed, Ford marketing manager for the North American police fleet, bluntly responds after our third such reference to the sedan in 10 minutes. Teed is adamant that this car is a Police Interceptor, a distinguished model in the Ford lineup and miles away from the civilian-issue Taurus on which it is based. Developed over three years with plenty of millions of dollars, the Police Interceptor Sedan (it's important to distinguish between Sedan and Explorer-based Utility) does retain the basic components of its family-hauling cousin, but nearly every aspect of the car has been reassessed for police duty.
The new Police Interceptor, rather unconventionally, is either FWD or AWD. The sheetmetal is largely the same as that of the Taurus, and so are the 3.5-liter V-6s. The naturally aspirated 288-hp version is standard alongside the optional ($3155) twin-turbocharged Ecoboost engine, good for 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. That's about where the similarities end.

The Interceptor's transmission gets a unique set of gear ratios and column shifting. Structural bracing stiffens the chassis and provide superior crash protection, and unique shocks, springs, brake calipers, and rotors are fitted. Hubs and wheel bearings also are uprated for increased durability.
Like Dodge, Ford has upped its cooling capacity with an external oil cooler and a cooling system for the AWD unit. A deflector plate under the front of the Police Interceptor helps keep multiple components, including the oil sump and exhaust header, free from damage when hopping curbs (part of the PI's durability test involved tackling 8-inch curbs at 40 mph) or traversing other rough terrain.

The Ecoboost-equipped Police Interceptor proved the most forgiving and predictable of the three cars we tested, while also topping our performance charts. It sprinted to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, taking 13.9 to get through our quarter mile. It also earned top marks on our figure-eight test and in lateral acceleration. A few laps around the MSP track cast aside our fears that the AWD Interceptor wouldn't rotate. It does, though not to the degree of the Charger. The Ford didn't elicit the smiles of the Charger nor the ride quality of the Caprice, but the ease with which we were able to extract the most from the car was impressive.

[ncguy]

But the old ancient FWD NA Impala (3.6L) with only 303HP has a higher top speed than the boosted V6... but oh geez I forgot that since these are Police Pursuit Vehicles that speed isn't necessary

The Snarus due to AWD is quick off the line but runs out of steam as speeds build...

And for the record - The fucking Charger is SWEET! Best looking of any... period!

[McLovin]

ncguy;226246 Wrote:But the old ancient FWD NA Impala (3.6L) with only 303HP has a higher top speed than the boosted V6... but oh geez I forgot that since these are Police Pursuit Vehicles that speed isn't necessary

The Snarus due to AWD is quick off the line but runs out of steam as speeds build...

And for the record - The fucking Charger is SWEET! Best looking of any... period!

A few top end mph's means nothing in pursuit. It is far more useful to have acceleration and awd traction.

[lengnert]

I ain't gonna lie, I don't see how any police department can go wrong with any of the three.

For 3 grand less, though, I can see why some departments are scooping up the last of the rugged CV's.

[Floater]

I've still yet to see a Taurus in the local fleet, but I'm looking forward to it. I've seen one Caprice, but it seems that the Charger's winning the race here.

Which is awesome. They look mean.

[Gixser995]

I doubt the Taurus will be popular down here. I've seen a few Caprices, and a ton of Chargers, but not one Taurus. The CV is a stronghold and I think my city is the only one in the county with a fleet of mostly Impalas. Cops like Big, RWD cop cars.

And the Taurus is awful snug for a big car.

It'll be popular up north, but in places with 11 months of summer, it's not.

[G8mike]

Toronto just said 'chuck it' and stocked up on a heap load of Crown Vics before they shut down production. From what I've heard, they don't like any of them and are leaning toward body on frame 'utes, but are far from any decision, until the stock of Crown Vic's are used up.