Ford has revealed the all-new Police Interceptor
Utility, which aims to offer improved performance and lower fuel costs thanks
to its hybrid powertrain. The new Ford Police Interceptor Utility is actually
the industry’s first pursuit-rated hybrid SUV, with Ford claiming an estimated
saving of US$ 3,200 per vehicle on a yearly basis when compared to today’s
non-hybrid model.
Ford estimates that the new Police Interceptor
Utility will get a projected EPA rating of at least 24 mpg combined,
representing a 40 percent improvement over the current 3.7-liter V6. Fuel
savings are also expected to come from reduced engine idling time.
Law-enforcement officers will also get better
acceleration and a higher top speed with the new hybrid Ford Police Interceptor
Utility. The lithium-ion battery pack is capable of powering the vehicle’s
demanding systems, such as lights, computers, radios and other equipment.
Ford says that the hybrid powertrain has been
calibrated specifically for law enforcement’s unique duty cycle and that it can
automatically switch to maximum performance when needed. The new hybrid Police
Interceptor Utility will come with a two-year complimentary Ford Telematics
service as standard.
In addition the all-new Police Perimeter Alert
system, offered as an option, can monitor approximately 270-degrees of movement
outside the vehicle and analyze motion to determine potentially threatening
behavior. When such behavior is detected, the vehicle sounds a chime, rolls up
the windows and locks the doors.
