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New and Improved
The Ford Police Interceptor Utility is probably a familiar sight to most drivers — the automaker claims 65 percent of police vehicles on U.S. roads are this Explorer-based utility vehicle. Now law enforcement will get a new ride as Ford introduces the all-new 2020 Ford Police Interceptor. The biggest news is that the new Police Interceptor comes with a hybrid all-wheel-drive powertrain as standard equipment. The all-new Explorer officially debuts next week, but the Police Interceptor hints at the styling of the upcoming model.
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Hybrid Fuel Efficiency
“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, Tyler noted. Ford projects a 40-percent improvement in fuel economy with an estimated 24 mpg combined, which can equate to as much as $5,700 savings per vehicle each year in fuel costs compared to the current model.
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Better Performance
The police SUV’s hybrid technology is not simply about fuel economy. The new powertrain outperformed the older 3.7-liter V6 engine in nearly every test, including better acceleration to 100 mph by almost 5 seconds. Since the batteries are stored below the floor, the Police Interceptor has no loss of interior room or utility, and the lower center of gravity should improve overall handling.
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New Features
The 2020 Police Interceptor has plenty of new features designed to keep officers comfortable and safe; one of the most innovative is the Police Perimeter Alert. Utilizing the sensors integrated into the rear bumper that are typically used for parking or cross-traffic alert, the system can monitor an approximately 270-degree area around the vehicle. It analyzes nearby movement to detect potentially threatening behavior. When such motion is detected, the system automatically turns on the rear camera, sounds a chime, rolls up the windows and locks the doors. Officers can monitor movements on the digital instrument cluster.
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Updated Lights
The Interceptor also has all-new integrated lighting to supplement the standard lightbar. Lights integrated into the rear spoiler are completely programmable with four different colors and can act as a second light bar, making the vehicle much more visible to those behind it.
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Utilitarian Interior
The new Interceptor features heavy-duty cloth front seats with reduced bolsters for comfort and easy entry and exit for officers. Vinyl rear seats and vinyl flooring enable easy cleanup, and anti-stab plates in the rear of the front seatbacks help protect officers from unruly rear-seat passengers.
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Patrolling Roads Soon
The 2020 Ford Police Interceptor will be available to law-enforcement agencies later this year with either the hybrid powertrain or optional 3.0-liter EcoBoost or 3.3-liter V6 engines.
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