COPS WIN THE RACE
If you’re dumb enough to try racing the police, Ford has a warning for you: the new Interceptors are dead fast! The latest sedan does a 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. Utility and pickup models were only slightly slower at 6.3 seconds.
The 2019 Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and the 2018 Ford F-150 Police Responder, testing by the Michigan State Police, confirms Ford is first to offer law enforcement agencies a pursuit-rated hybrid police car and full-size pickup truck.
From local patrolling to on-road pursuit to off-road capability, law enforcement agencies nationwide have said they need a wider variety of pursuit-rated vehicles.
Ford then uses a third party to validate its claims.
In Michigan State Police testing, which includes a grueling 32-lap pursuit simulation at Grattan Raceway, Ford’s pursuit rating for both vehicles was confirmed.
The simulation tests overall vehicle durability, including powertrain, suspension, brake and tire systems.
In acceleration testing, preliminary results show the new Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan bested the once-ubiquitous Crown Victoria by more than one second in 0-100 mph performance – 23.1 seconds versus 24.4 seconds.
The Crown Vic had an EPA-estimated rating of 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.
Ford’s new Police Responder Hybrid Sedan has a projected EPA-estimated rating of 40 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 38 mpg combined – making it twice as efficient as the Crown Vic. Final EPA-estimated ratings come at a later date.
Other pursuit-rated Ford police vehicles also aced testing by the Michigan State Police.
Not only does the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan retain its title for the sixth straight year as overall quickest police vehicle in 0-60 mph testing, preliminary results validate the Ford Police Interceptor SUV as quickest in 0-60 as well – a tie with the new F-150 Police Responder pickup.
All three of these pursuit-rated vehicles are powered by Ford’s now-legendary 3.5litre EcoBoost V6 engine.
The Police Interceptor Sedan did the 060 run in 5.6 seconds, while Police Interceptor Utility, below, and the F-150 Police Responder needed only 6.3 seconds to hit 60 mph.