AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2012 FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR

On The Cover Review: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor

For at least a decade, Ford’s venerable Crown Victoria has dominated the police car market. But the Vic has reached the end of its life cycle, and Ford doesn’t want to lose that stronghold they have on the police fleet business. That’s where the new Police Interceptor comes in. It’s based on the new Taurus, but don’t call it a Taurus, because Ford insists it isn’t one. Of course, that means it is a front-wheel-drive car, or a front-drive-based all-wheel-drive car. That is quite a departure from the tried-and-true rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame Crown Vic that most police departments are used to. It affects how they are driven, how they handle a crash, how they hold up under constant use, and how they are repaired when something goes wrong. Moving away from the Crown Victoria is an immense adjustment, and with the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle coming into the picture, and the somewhat proven Charger already in the mix, both of which are rear-wheel-drive and offer V8’s, Ford doesn’t have a lock on the new generation of patrol units. The Ford Police Interceptor comes with a 3.5-liter V6 that’s good for 265-hp, or EcoBoost it for an additional 100 ponies. The face of law enforcement is changing, and Ford is hoping that the new Police Interceptor will represent that face for thousands of police agencies all over the country.