Ford's new police car provides greater fuel economy for cops who don't expect to get in a lot of car chases.
Called the "special service police sedan," the car is still intimidating even if it doesn't reach the same speeds, emphasizing fuel efficiency over power, USA TODAY reported.
The new car is based on the same modified Taurus used for the standard police cruiser from Ford, but it comes equipped with a 2-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine.
These engines work well for campus cops or detectives who serve in jobs that likely won't have them chasing anyone down. With the Ecoboost engine, the police sedan gets 20 miles per gallon in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 24 mpg combined, according to USA TODAY.
The mileage is about twice as much as officers were getting when they drove the old Crown Victoria, which was the standard police car for years but is no longer being made.
The new police car also features active grille shutters, which open or close to improve aerodynamics when the engine doesn't need to be cooled through airflow.
For officers who will be chasing down suspects, Ford also offers "pursuit-rated" motors, which include a 3.7-liter V-6 with four-wheel drive and the 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine, also with all-wheel drive.
Ford's police car was recently tested and found to be the fastest police car available, according to tests conducted by the Michigan State Police.
The turbocharged Ford Taurus modified as a Police Interceptor sedan was swifter than the Dodge Charger, the Chevrolet Caprice V-8 and the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford said.
"Agencies tell us if the bad guys see the police vehicle quickly close in pursuit, they're less likely to try to run," said Bill Gubing, Ford chief engineer, in a statement. "If this can help reduce the number of high-speed chases, then we could improve public safety on our nation's roads."
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