(February 26, 2012) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is off to a strong start as the next-generation vehicle of choice by law enforcement agencies across the country. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Friday the city will buy 500 Police Interceptor sedans and utility vehicles, the largest commitment to date for the all-new vehicles.
 
“We are pleased and proud Chicago has decided to purchase Ford’s Police Interceptor vehicles,” said Ken Czubay, vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service. “Ford has been the police pursuit vehicle market leader for 15 years, and we know these all-new vehicles can handle the rigors of police work.”
 
The Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicles started production at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant last month, adding 230 jobs at the Torrence Avenue plant with additional manufacturing and support jobs expected in the future.
 
Ford specially designed and engineered an all-new Police Interceptor sedan and utility to handle the rigors of police work, working hand-in-hand with its Police Advisory Board of law enforcement professionals.
 
Ford says its all-new Police Interceptor vehicles can save law enforcement agencies across the country millions of dollars a year in fuel costs. For example, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department — the largest in the world — operates a fleet of 6,200 vehicles that patrol an area the size of Connecticut. In 2010, those vehicles drove more than 27 million miles. A fleet-wide 20 percent fuel economy gain would stand to save the department at least $20 million a year with fuel prices hovering near $4 a gallon.
 
Ford’s Police Interceptor engine strategy provides a V6 lineup that performs equal to or better than V8 engines. The lineup comes with two powertrain options, allowing police to choose the powerhouse that best meets their patrol requirements.
 
A highly efficient 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering at least 263 horsepower and E85 compatibility is 25 percent more efficient than the outgoing 4.6-liter single-overhead-cam V8 it is replacing.
 
In addition, the all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine will deliver at least 365 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque across a broad rpm range. EcoBoost brings the first ultra-high-performance yet environmentally friendly police pursuit vehicle. The engine offers performance that bests normally aspirated V8-powered police cruisers, and comparable fuel economy and CO2 emissions to the standard V6.