Products
Ford introduces all-new 2020 Police Interceptor Utility

 “Our Police Interceptor Utility’s standard hybrid powertrain provides the potential for significant fuel savings with improved performance and no tradeoffs in safety or interior passenger or cargo space,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. “It’s a win-win-win formula for law enforcement.”
The 2020 Police Interceptor Utility hybrid has a projected EPA-estimated rating of 24 mpg combined, a 41 per cent improvement over the current Police Interceptor Utility equipped with a 3.7-litre gas engine.

In recent testing by Michigan State Police, the all-new Police Interceptor Utility hybrid had the fastest 0-100 mph acceleration, fastest lap, fastest average lap and highest top speed of 137 mph, versus competitive police utility vehicles tested, including V8-powered entries. The only faster entry was its cousin – Ford Police Interceptor Utility powered by a 3.0-liter EcoBoost engine, according to Ford.

The Police Interceptor Utility platform was engineered around its lithium-ion battery, which does not intrude into the cargo area.

The all-new model also introduces a number of advanced innovations designed for officer safety. Factory-installed Police Perimeter Alert uses sensors to monitor an approximately 270-degree area around the vehicle. It analyzes nearby movement to detect potentially threatening behaviour. When such motion is detected, the system automatically turns on the rear camera, sounds a chime, rolls up the windows and locks the doors. Motion trails of the detected threat appear on the digital instrument cluster so officers can monitor.

Ford also equips its new Police Interceptor Utility and Police Responder Hybrid Sedan with a Ford modem and two years of complimentary Ford Telematics service that enables timely feedback of vehicle usage and location to agency fleet managers.

“Officers take care of people in our communities, so we feel it’s important that our vehicles help take care of our officers,” Tyler said.

Three powertrain options for the all-new Police Interceptor Utility include a standard 3.3-litre hybrid, plus available 3.0-liter EcoBoost and 3.3-litre V6 engines. All are powered by a new 10-speed automatic transmission and feature standard full-time Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and deep snow/sand traction control mode.

Other standard equipment includes Bluetooth pass-through commands to mobile devices, to help officers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, low- and high-beam LED headlamps, four user-configurable steering wheel switches, a Class III trailer tow receiver with 5,000-pound capacity and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel.

A history of outfitting law enforcement
In 1950, Ford says it became the first manufacturer to offer a police package vehicle. The Interceptor name debuted on the optional 110-horsepower flathead V8 engine for 1951.

By 1961, 58 per cent of police vehicles in use in the 50 largest U.S. cities were Ford models.

The Crown Victoria name was given to the Police Interceptor in 1983. Its available police package featured an optional 351-cubic-inch 5.8-liter high-output V8.

Ford discontinued the once-ubiquitous V8-equipped Crown Victoria in 2011, and since then, its new Police Interceptors – most notably, Police Interceptor Utility – have continued to refortify law enforcement fleets.