KEEP ON TRUCKIN’
We’re all familiar with seeing Crown Vics with their blues ’n’ twos, but they’re fast being defleeted and replaced with… F-150s?! No, not necessarily, but Ford has spotted a gap in the market and unveiled the latest version of its all-new 2021 Ford F-150 Police Responder. It’s America’s only purpose-built, pursuit-rated pick-up truck and features an improved 120mph top speed and automatic four-wheel-drive mode with a torque-on-demand transfer case. Introduced in 2017 as a unique all-terrain law enforcement tool, the latest Ford F-150 Police Responder is built on the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew platform and engineered to meet a wide range of agency needs – from allowing officers to travel with more emergency response gear to transporting mobile command centres.
“Law enforcement agencies told us they would love to add F-150 Police Responder towing, hauling and off-road performance to their fleets, but they need more confidence in speed and handling,” said Greg Ebel, Ford police vehicle brand manager. “Whether suburban police departments, border patrol agents or rural sheriffs, officers never know where the job might take them, but the all-new F-150 Police Responder provides a pick-up truck option engineered to get them there faster and with greater agility than ever before.”
The 2021 F-150 Police Responder pick-up’s standard Ford 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine produces 400 horsepower and 500ft-lb of torque – which tops all pursuit-rated police vehicles. The engine is paired with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission that has been specially calibrated to meet rigorous law enforcement use, while enabling it to reach speeds significantly higher than a stock F-150.
The truck features a new torque-on-demand transfer case, which includes ‘4-Auto’ mode, with an electrically actuated clutch that automatically adjusts torque as needed to provide ‘set it and forget it’ capability for seamless terrain transition. On high-friction surfaces such as dry pavement, the system runs in two-wheel drive for maximum performance and improved handling around corners, avoiding the ‘crow-hopping’ that commonly slows a four-wheel-drive vehicle. If a pursuit shifts to slick or loose surfaces, the 4-Auto system simultaneously directs power to all four wheels, allowing officers to remain focused on the job at hand.
The torque-on-demand system couples with the standard F-150 FX4 Off-Road Package to give officers improved off-road capability. The FX4 package includes underbody skid plates, off-road-tuned shocks, an electronic-locking rear axle, and Hill Descent Control to help maintain speed while driving down an incline. For Police departments that need to tow a boat, horse trailer, mobile command centre or other equipment, F-150 Police Responder tops all other pursuit-rated vehicles with a standard towing capacity of 7000lb and an available towing capacity of 11,200lb, in addition to its payload capacity of 2030lb.
So called ‘Police Engine Idle’ lets an officer remove the key from the ignition and securely exit the truck with the engine running. Officers can continue to power lights and sirens without the worry of vehicle theft (apparently a common problem!).
Police agencies can choose the type of keys to operate their trucks – up to four traditional fleet keys per truck, or up to four available fobs with keyless entry per truck.
Good news for those officers to be found at the doughnut shop (or the gym for that matter) is that F-150 Police Responder offers more interior passenger volume and more head, hip and shoulder room than any other pursuit-rated offering. Front seat bolsters are sized to make it easier for an officer wearing a duty belt to enter or exit the vehicle while enhancing comfort over the course of the typical eight-hour shift.
A new factory-installed centre console is also available as part of the Interior Upgrade Package, as is a new Interior Work Surface that provides an adjustable flat surface for writing or computer work.
The updated darker-coloured interior, including police-grade heavy-duty cloth front seats, was influenced directly by police officers’ feedback and features built-in steel intrusion plates in both front seatbacks for officer safety. The 2021 Ford F-150 Police Responder is assembled at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.