When it comes to selecting vehicles, law enforcement departments in the United States have given more weight to utility and high performance. No ultra-luxury features as you find in the fleets of Police in countries like Italy and the United Kingdom. As modest as they might look, there is no dearth of some properly serious cars that have served the American Police forces through the decades.
Made up of coupes, sedans, and even SUVs; these cars are extensively upgraded for use on the front line and pack a lot of specialist heavy-duty equipment including bull bars, lights, and communication gear. Now obviously, cars for most of the Police fleets across the country, have predominantly come from the big three, and here's taking a look at some of the fastest American Police cars of all time.
10 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV: 140 MPH
The Chevy Tahoe PPV pays as much attention to elements of comfort as power. The interior is spacious, and front-row seats are specially designed to accommodate duty belts and a simplified electrical architecture to help streamline up-fitting. The Tahoe PPV features a 5.3 liter V8 engine capable of 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque.
The gigantic powerplant translates wonderfully on the road, and the vehicle can hit a top speed of 140 mph which, given the size, is nothing short of phenomenal. Speaking of the 2021 Tahoe, Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, of GM Fleet stated,
“Tahoe is the most aspirational vehicle in the law enforcement industry. By listening to the needs of officers from around the country, we have built the best Tahoe ever."
9 1983-1993 Ford Mustang SSP: 140+ MPH
Ford came up with the Mustang SSP as a speedier, lighter replacement for police cars back in the early 80s. SSP stood for Special Service Package, and the vehicle did do justice to its title. Available in coupe and hatchback options, the cars were designed to run hard no matter the situation. The Mustang SSPs offered unparalleled power, performance, extreme maneuverability, and comfort.
The speed in later versions could be maxed out at 160 mph. One of the episodes of Jay Leno's Garage featuring a Fox-body Ford Mustang from 1982 highlighted the tagline that the ‘Mustang chased Porsches for a living’ due to the maker's commitment to providing cops with a faster Mustang.
Ford also took special orders from agencies, and special requests was incorporated into the design. New York Police Department requested power windows, Oregon and Kentucky Police Departments got roll cages installed, while many others got an automatic transmission.
In 1982 alone, a total of 406 units were sold to CHP (California Highway Patrol). The SSP segment was so successful that Ford supplied over 15,000 SSP Mustang H.O. sedans to over 60 law enforcement offices and other government agencies from 1982 to 1993.
8 2013 Ford Taurus Interceptor: 148 MPH
One of the most iconic Ford Interceptors after the Crown, the Taurus became a staple for police departments across different states right since its first introduction into the squad in 2012. The Ford Police Interceptor Sedan (FPIS) featured a naturally-aspirated 3.5L V-6 engine that resulted in 365 horsepower. The Ecoboost technology helped the car max out at 148 mph and accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
Post-2014, Ford began offering the Taurus Interceptor with several cool safety features including a reverse sensing system and electronic stability control. The FPIS was the only reason Ford continued the production of the Taurus. However, the company pulled the plug on the production of the Taurus in 2019, and FPIS was replaced by Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan (FPRHS) based on the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
7 2022 Ford Interceptor Utility: 148 MPH
Law enforcement agencies have been demanding SUVs, and to meet the requirement, Ford came up with the Ford Police Interceptor Utility (FPIU) - a powerful SUV that embodies the same good ol’ Ford soul. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine generates a mega 400 horsepower at a screaming 5500 rpm. The massive power plant allows the vehicle to fly at the maximum speed of 148 mph.
The Interceptor Utility gives an edge to the police in more ways than just power. The spacious five-seater features a 12.1-inch Integrated Computer Screen atop the dashboard with all the essential police and non-police-related data on it. Besides other Ford safety technology, the car employs BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) sensors that allow cops to have an approximately 270-degree view of the outside and keep a check on potential threats.
6 1969 Dodge Polara Pursuit: 149 MPH
Not as popular as others, but surely an unsung hero of American forces. The '69 Polara featured everything that makes an ideal cop car. From heavy-duty suspension to massive brakes along with a 440 Magnum V-8 under the hood that put out 375 horsepower. In 1969, the Polara’s body evolved to what they called the “Fuselage” - a sleeker, more movement-friendly design.
The changes in the body helped Polara become a fast runner that could reach up to 149 mph despite being bulkier than most fast cars at the time. With the enhancements, the Polara became exactly what cops fancied - an intimidating, spacious vehicle that could also run fast while being totally reliable.
5 2016-2022 Dodge Charger Pursuit: 150 MPH
The Charger Pursuit is among the most common Patrol cars in the U.S. due to its formidable caliber and never-slow-down attitude. The Charger Pursuit boasts two engine options - a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that produces up to 300 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque and a bigger 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine that generates 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque.
This modern-day police Muscle car can reach a maximum speed of 150 mph which is in line with its predecessors. However, the main reason it's the absolute king are its features. The new Pursuit comes with Fuel Saver Technology that puts four cylinders to sleep when there's no need for all eight as the V-8 is particularly thirsty.
4 1996 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1: 150 MPH
Cops loved the Chevy Caprice 9C1 for several good reasons. GM paid close attention to the needs of officers, and consequently, the performance appeared to have made no compromise whatsoever.
The sedan packed a humongous 5.7 LT1 V-8 engine under the hood with a four-speed automatic transmission which at the time wasn’t all that common. It could reach a maximum speed of 150 mph. In addition, the car offered plenty of space on the inside which made long duty hours easier for those on duty.
3 2013 Chevrolet Caprice PPV: 155 MPH
The Chevrolet Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) brings equal proportions of sensibility and power. The four-door sedan offered two variants - the standard version with a 3.6 liter V-6 engine putting out 301 horsepower and a more powerful version with a 6.0 liter LS V-8 engine generating 355 horsepower with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability.
The Caprice PPV goes from zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds. Though the acceleration is just okay, the top speed is a whopping 155 mph which makes it one of the fastest police cars ever.
2 2002 Chevrolet Camaro B4C: 159 MPH
The Chevrolet Camaro B4C remains one of the legends and is a cop car that struck fear in the hearts of law offenders. Equipped with a 5.7 liter V-8 powerplant, the car put out over 300 horsepower. As a result, it was one of the most powerful patrol cars cruising the streets at the time.
It could hit a top speed of 159 mph and could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. Chevrolet installed a Special Service Police Package that helped cops in various operations including a radar system that could track the speed of passing vehicles.
1 Chevrolet C7 Corvette Z06: 196 MPH
The Florida Police Department added a C7 Z06 to its fleet. Now, the C7 Corvette is a car that doesn't really jibe with American law enforcement’s need for utility. It packs a massive 6.2 L supercharged-inter-cooled LT4 V-8 engine under the hood that generates 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
In addition, it also comes with essential technologies such as Active Fuel Management and constantly variable valve control. With an acceleration of 0-60 mph in just 2.6 seconds, the coupe can reach a maximum speed of 196 mph.