New Ford police vehicles – hybrid sedan and F-150 – are now pursuit rated

In 2011, Ford announced the retirement of certain vehicles including the Ford Crown Victoria, the Police Interceptor Sedan that is based on the Ford Taurus, and the Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility - vehicles that served as options for many police forces around the United States. But just recently, Ford introduced the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and the new F-150 Police Responder to further expand its range. And both models are now pursuit rated.

To become a pursuit rated vehicle, the car must go through a test that includes driving 32 laps around the Grattan Raceway. Undergoing these laps evaluates the vehicles’ features such as its durability, pertaining to how its powertrain, suspension, brake, and tire systems perform.

After going through tests, the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, which we first heard of in April, did better than the Crown Victoria when it comes to efficiency, and it is faster too. The former returns an EPA-estimated mile per gallon rating of 40 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined, while the latter does 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined rating.

Furthermore, the Fusion Hybrid beats the Crown Victoria when it comes to hitting 100 miles per hour (160 kilometers per hour), doing it only in 23.1 seconds, while the Crown Victoria did it in 24.4 seconds. That is quite an impressive performance for a Responder, though it cannot compare to a Ford GT by any means.

Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager compares the Fusion-based Police Responder Hybrid Sedan to the V8 powered Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, explaining that the former offers better fuel efficiency, and is also quicker when it comes to performance. He also pointed out the new F-150 Police Responder’s off-road capability.

Not everyone is into hybrid vehicles, and automakers know that, which is why naturally aspirated gas-powered versions will still be available. This means that the Interceptor Sedan, Utility, and the F-150 Responder can be had in gasoline engines like the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6.

So far, the EcoBoost powered Interceptor Sedan is the fastest in the lineup. From a standstill, it can hit 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in just 5.6 seconds. However, the F-150 carries the most power with a total output of 375 horsepower (279 kilowatts) and 470 pound-feet (637 Newton-metres) of torque. Furthermore, the F-150’s engine works with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, enabling it to sprint 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in just 6.3 seconds.

With the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and the new F-150 Police Responder, police officers in the United States can now look forward to driving new vehicles when they are on duty.

PRESS RELEASE

PURSUIT RATED: NEW FORD POLICE RESPONDER HYBRID SEDAN AND F-150 POLICE RESPONDER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE TESTING

Independent testing confirms Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and F-150 Police Responder are the first pursuit-rated hybrid sedan and pickup truck vehicles for law enforcement use
Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan and F-150 Police Responder successfully completed grueling 32-lap police vehicle testing at Grattan Raceway last month
Order banks are now open for Police Responder Hybrid Sedan for law enforcement agencies to add to their fleets
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 4, 2017 – Following the reveal earlier this year of two all-new police vehicles – 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.

“Our new Fusion-based Police Responder Hybrid Sedan is quicker than our legendary V8-powered Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, while offering fuel efficiency that’s estimated to be double that,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. “Plus, our new F-150 Police Responder offers police customers both on-road pursuit and off-road capability.”

Pursuit ratings are determined by vehicle manufacturers. Ford then uses a third party to validate its claims. So last month, 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.

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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 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine. Police Interceptor Sedan did the 0-60 run in 5.6 seconds, while Police Interceptor Utility and the F-150 Police Responder needed only 6.3 seconds to hit 60 mph. Fastest overall lap and fastest average lap honors once again go to the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan.

Ford’s efforts to meet the needs of its police customers continue with the addition of the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan – a remarkably efficient pursuit-rated choice for law enforcement agencies nationwide. For those who require both on-road pursuit plus off-road capability, the new F-150 Police Responder adds a new dimension to police fleets across the country.