Ford
Police Interceptor Utility
Ford unveiled the 2016 Ford Police Interceptor
Utility vehicle at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, kicking off a new chapter for
the utility that has changed the face of law enforcement.
The 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility was
developed with input from the Ford Police Advisory Board to handle the extreme
rigors of police duty. In the business of fighting crime, performance and
durability are king. Ford Police Interceptor Utility is the only Pursuit Rated
midsize utility vehicle; Ford's utility and sedan versions are the only Pursuit
Rated vehicles with standard all-wheel drive.
The Police Advisory Board was created by Ford to
refine and develop future products that meet the needs of law enforcement
agencies. The board, created in 2000, consists of a rotating panel of 25
experts from the law enforcement community. The group has supplied Ford with
customer feedback and served as a pilot group for products, programs and
services.
The 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility features a
new front and rear design, new headlamps, a new instrument panel and an
enhanced electrical system to distribute electrical loads more efficiently.
Available Surveillance Mode technology warns the
driver when someone approaches the rear of the vehicle. Upon detection, the
driver's window automatically raises and all doors lock. Ford is the first
manufacturer to bring this innovative feature to market.
As a DIRECT RESPONSE to customer feedback, Ford
added a liftgate release switch, accessible to occupants in the front. It
allows the rear liftgate mechanism to remain unlocked for 45 seconds before
timing out, permitting officers to access the cargo area. A rear camera with
washer is standard for the 2016 model with a 4-inch screen in the center stack.
As an option, the view from the camera can be seen in the rearview mirror.
Ford Police Interceptor Utility comes standard with
a 3.7-liter V6 producing 304 horsepower and 279 lb-ft. of torque, while an
available 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 makes 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. of
torque, allowing agencies to select the engine that best meets their patrol
requirements. Police Interceptor Utility's standard all-wheel drive is designed
to deliver low-speed traction and high-speed handling and stability.
Both engines have been calibrated to meet extreme
test requirements defined by the Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department. Tests include aggressive driving on road courses and
racetracks, braking and acceleration, top speed and city pursuit testing.
In both Police Interceptor models, the standard
six-speed transmission features a unique Pursuit Mode specifically programmed
for law enforcement use. The transmission automatically switches from normal,
fuel-saving operation to Pursuit Mode when it detects aggressive driving
situations, based on brake line pressure, deceleration and lateral acceleration
rates.
Once in Pursuit Mode, the upshift and downshift
performance of the transmission is OPTIMIZED for aggressive driving, returning
to fuel-save mode when it senses the aggressive driving is complete. The
software is tuned to perform a reverse J-turn, which is when a reversing
vehicle is spun 180 degrees and continues, face forward, without changing
direction of travel.
In addition to unique cooling systems designed for
extreme use, Police Interceptor also features custom-developed brakes designed
to withstand excessive use. The 18-inch steel wheels have high venting
characteristics to help cool the brakes.
The vehicle has been designed to stand up to the
demands of police work, with heavy-duty powertrain mounts, reinforced subframe
mounts and unique hubs and bearings. Larger-diameter springs are used in the
suspension. The upgrades help ensure every Police Interceptor model can handle
the extreme rigors of law enforcement work. Even the tires are specifically
designed to meet durability and pursuit standards, with some departments
logging as many as 50,000 miles per year.
The unibody structure of Police Interceptor Utility
features boron steel in the A-pillar and a hydroformed, high-strength steel
tube that runs the width of the vehicle to improve structural rigidity.
Interior and exterior dimensions remain the same for the 2016 model.
