People worldwide who work as police officers do not have easy jobs. They are tasked to deal with everything from property disturbances to traffic stops, any of which can lead them to a life-and-death situation. Each officer has their own specific way of handling situations, guided by the hours of training they have to go through, relying on their equipment to keep them safe while in uniform. The main pieces of equipment that outsiders relate to an officer are the gun and the taser. Both of these are very important in their line of work, but arguably one of the most essential pieces of equipment they use daily is the vehicle they have.
A car that must be fast, handles great, and be filled with every safety item available because wrecks are bound to happen. Whether it is due to a forced stop, or a high-speed chase gone wrong, the officers in the vehicle's cab must be able to survive accidents that would usually not be something to ever stress about happening.
The buyers that visited the Michigan State Police annual Police Vehicle Evaluation at the end of 2022 were introduced to some of the best police vehicles on the planet. The big three all had their best police-rated vehicles on display, with the Ford Police Interceptor (P.I.) Utility being one of the most impressive. Let's take a look at why this vehicle is the most chosen model for police forces around the nation to gain a better understanding of why officers prefer to use an SUV over some of the Pony car options available.
10 Brief History Of Ford Police Vehicles
Ford has been in the business of supplying police vehicles for as long as they have been in business, all the way back to the times when the Ford Model T was the car to have. Officially, though, the first fleet-produced police cruiser was in 1950 with the first-ever Police Package vehicle.
The idea was to offer a powerful, safe, durable car to the nation's officers, one able to haul suspects to the jails without fearing for their lives in the process. Ford has continued to offer these vehicles to the officers in need, every year offering various models for the specific tasks that the police locations need, but always having the most innovative technology on board. For 2023, Ford has once again upped their ante with the Police Interceptor Utility.
9 Why Is The Base Vehicle Of The P.I. Utility An Explorer?
Converting a basic SUV over to an aggressive police-rated vehicle may not seem like a great idea, but there are several reasons why the Explorer was chosen as the base vehicle for the P.I. Utility. For one, it can travel in any terrain because, let's face it, criminals trying to flee do not always stay on the beaten path.
The Ford Police Interceptor Utility is also the fastest police vehicle offered for 2023, beating out the Dodge Charger and the Chevy Silverado. The modified Ford Explorer also gives the occupants in the front plenty of room for equipment, and foot room for the people placed in the back, and the far back can be used to haul extra equipment or even a police K-9 that has been partnered with the officer in front.
8 The Ford Police Interceptor Utility Has The Choice Of Three Engines
The world has begun a major shift away from internal combustion engines (ICE) towards electric and hybrid versions to reduce carbon emissions being put into the atmosphere. Even though many fleet vehicles have been converted over, including the ones designed for police officers, there are still many that do not fully grasp the benefits, which is why Ford has offered three different engines under the hood.
The first is the 3.3-liter V-6 Hybrid which delivers 318 horsepower and 322 foot-pounds of torque. The second choice is the same 3.3-liter but without the aid of an electric motor. This engine only offers 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The final and quickest option is the 3.0L Ecoboost, which gives the driver 400 horsepower and 415 foot-pounds of torque.
7 Idling Takes A Toll On A Cruiser, But The Ford P.I. Utility Has It Covered
Police cruisers are seldom turned off during a shift because the officer is always on the go. The AWD system helps traveling over any terrain in any weather, but it does not help when the car is sitting in one spot running. Idling can cause overheating if the engine runs too long, even if the vehicle is in good shape. That is where the Hybrid system comes into play on the new Ford P.I. Utility.
The internal combustion engine can be switched off while the electric motor takes over, allowing the engine to cool off and get some downtime before the next stop. Once the fuel-driven engine kicks in, the hybrid system will recharge itself off the brakes, getting the batteries back up to charge for the next time the car is set to idle.
6 Exterior Upgrades Make The Police Interceptor Utility Duty Worthy
Any vehicle that is put to use in police service has to be dependable and rugged. Otherwise, the bad people of the world will never have to face the consequences of their actions. The major exterior upgrade that the P.I. Utility has is a reinforced back end that can take up to a 75 mph impact without crushing the occupants. But underneath, an addition that can be found is a police-tuned suspension designed to absorb the engine's torque during a chase. An upgraded suspension system that can take the impacts through the tires from the ground being driven on to increase handling stability.
5 Interior Upgrades In The Ford Police Interceptor Make It Fit
The interior of the Police Interceptor Utility is designed to be programmed how the driver wants it to be. The buttons on the steering wheel can be set to turn on the sirens, flashers, radio, or any other applications that may be needed. The shifter is designed to be on the steering column to keep it out of the way of all the electronics that an officer uses throughout their shift. To top it all off, the infotainment center that is found on most Ford SUVs today can be hooked into the portable computer systems that help an officer conduct searches and input information on the fly.
4 Safety Is The Number One Priority In The Ford P.I. Utility
The side and front safety features are upgraded with structural reinforcements, giving the buyer multiple-level options for constructing the side doors. Advanced technology is used throughout the SUV to help direct and absorb the energy caused by impacts at all speeds. Each and every Ford P.I. Utility offers the occupants a personal safety net inside that can distinguish between the energy generated by an impact or through a gunfight.
The sensors that read the information and decypher the data make decisions within seconds, deploying any number of airbags to help absorb any impacts. The main front airbags work similarly to the base model Explorer, as do the side airbags that deploy to prevent injuries due to being thrown sideways. Another interior safety feature found in the Ford P.I. Utility is an airbag curtain that comes down from the roof to support the entire body of each individual in the SUV.
3 Technology Is The Key To Any Police Vehicle
The interior of the P.I. Utility produced by Ford is full of all the standard equipment expected in a modern SUV, with more specialized features added. One of the main changes is the computer-integrated software that allows the officer to store their computer in the back and have it hooked directly to the infotainment center.
This frees up space in the front as well as offers an easy way for any data to be accessed while in motion. The other main improvement is in the camera system, being expanded to cover 270 degrees, and can even give an alert if the sensors pick up aggressive actions toward the police cruiser.
2 Choice Of Color Schemes To Match Needs With The Ford P.I. Utility
Not every police force will have the same color combinations, so it is important that Ford offer the Police Interceptor utility with various color schemes. The SUV is offered with two interior colors and seventeen exterior shades. The two interior colors are either dark grey cloth or dark grey vinyl, each of them designed to take abuse. The exterior color can be chosen by ordering a color example to see in person, but they range from grey and silver to red and blue, all depending upon the color scheme of the force.
1 The Cost Is Down To Earth And Designed To Meet Low Budget Thresholds
The cost of the base-level Ford Explorer starts at just over $35,000 which is right in the range of the other SUVs on the market. It would be thought that an upgraded and modified version of the vehicle would cost a substantial amount more, but Ford understands that most police forces do not have a large budget to work with.
So, to make themselves more competitive, they offer the baseline Ford P.I. Utility vehicle at around the same cost as the base-level Explorer that the average citizen can buy. Of course, as options are added, the price can go up into the mid $60,000 range but still stay within the price range it would typically be.